Zinedine Zidane has received support from Real Madrid after the president of the French Football Federation claimed he would have declined the 50-year-call old’s if he rang to enquire about the national team job.
The former Real Madrid manager has been connected with the France post following reports that Didier Deschamps will be replaced after Les Bleus lost to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
However, the FFF recently announced that current boss Didier Deschamps had signed a contract extension until 2026.
Noel Le Graet, the French Football Federation president, rubbed further salt in the wound by saying Zidane was never in the running to take over Les Bleus and that he would not have even answered his call.
Real Madrid released a statement in support of Zidane. The club referred to him as ‘one of the greatest legends of world sport’ and said Le Graet’s comments were disrespectful.
The club’s statement read: ‘Real Madrid CF regrets the unfortunate statements made by the president of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet, about Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest legends of world sport.
‘These words imply a lack of respect towards one of the figures most admired by football fans around the world and our club expects an immediate rectification.
🚨| Real Madrid release club statement defending Zidane & Benzema. #rmalive pic.twitter.com/CwVNtIThM9
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) January 9, 2023
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Real Madrid were not the only ones to have taken offence to Le Graet’s comments.
France star Kylian Mbappe rushed to defend Zidane on social media. He wrote: ‘Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that’.
Zidane c’est la France, on manque pas de respect à la légende comme ça… 🤦🏽♂️
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) January 8, 2023
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