PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe has accused the France FA President of “disrespecting” Zinedine Zidane following his links with the Brazil job.
Zidane has helped Real Madrid win the Champions League three times as a manager but he has been out of work since leaving them in May 2021.
The France icon has been linked with several jobs over the past year. He was connected with a move to Manchester United before they appointed Erik ten Hag.
The 50-year-old has also been touted as a potential successor for France national team boss Didier Deschamps.
The 54-year-old won the World Cup as a player and he lifted the trophy as a manager in 2018 as France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Russia.
Deschamps remained in charge of France ahead of last year’s World Cup. His side overcame several injury issues to reach the final but they were pipped to the trophy by Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
The manager’s future was in doubt following this tournament but it has since been confirmed that he has penned a contract extension that runs until 2026.
Zidane will likely manage France one day but he will have to wait a bit longer to get that role.
In the meantime, reports have suggested that he could coach Brazil. They sacked Tite following their shock World Cup exit at the hands of Croatia.
France FA President Noel Le Graet has responded to these reports by claiming that he “doesn’t care” as he “wouldn’t pick up the phone” if Zidane called him.
“I don’t care, he can go where he wants. He can go where he wants, in a club or a national team, I hardly believe it as far as he is concerned,” Le Graet said (via The Mirror).
“Zidane was always under the radar. He had a lot of followers; some were waiting for Deschamps to leave. But who can seriously criticise Deschamps? No one can. There have not been many problems. His departure always generates clicks.”
The French FA president continued: “I have never seen Zidane, we’ve never thought of separating ourselves from Didier Deschamps. That doesn’t correspond to anything. Some journalists need to change or invent because they don’t know what to write and prefer to say bad things than good things.
“Frankly, those who condemn in advance have never taken me out. Did Zidane try to contact me? Of course not, I wouldn’t even have picked up the phone. To tell him to look for another club? Make a special program so that you can find a club or a national team.”
PSG forward Mbappe has unsurprisingly not taken too kindly to these comments.
“Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that…” Mbappe tweeted.
