Zinedine Zidane to snub Chelsea for Juve after making decision to return to management

Zinedine Zidane looks set to make a return to management after two years out of the game with reports claiming the former Real Madrid boss keen on joining his former side Juventus over Chelsea. 

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has finally made a decision on his future after being linked with the Chelsea job, according to reports.

Zidane was one of the names said to be on Todd Boehly’s list of possible candidates to replace Graham Potter after the Englishman was sacked earlier this month. The Frenchman has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

However, the possibility of the 50-year-old being appointed as the next permanent boss at Stamford Bridge has fallen on deaf ears with Mauricio Pochettino now the front-runner after Julian Nagelsmann also pulled out of the race.

Zidane won three Champions League and two La Liga titles in his four-and-a-half years in Spain, emerging as one of the best managers in football. It was said that he was waiting for the France national team job to become available after the World Cup, but Didier Deschamps’ contract extension left him in limbo.

Now, it has been reported that Zidane has chosen his next venture after nearly two years out of the game. According to French outlet RMC Sport, the former midfielder is keen to return to management in the summer, with a move to Juventus on his list.

Zidane made 212 appearances for the Italian side during his playing days, winning two Serie A titles, the Supercoppa Italiana and reaching two Champions League finals.

The report claims a long-term project is the likely preference for Zidane, with Juventus’ successful appeal against a points deduction for illicit transfer activity making them an attractive prospect. However, Juventus would reportedly have to pay £17.85million to dismiss current boss Massimiliano Allegri – whose contract expires in 2025.

The Serie A side have had a missed season sitting third position on the Italian top flight league table with some 16 points below leaders Napoli.

Juve take on Napoli this evening and a win for them will not change much on the league log only will the victory impact in the longer run if Napoli continue to drop points in the 8 matches to the end of the season.

However, Allegri’s side have reached the semifinals of the Europa League where they will face favourites Sevilla in early May.