PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed that Zinedine Zidane will not be the club's new manager, with Christophe Galtier set to take the job instead.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of Paris Saint-Germain, has stated that Zinedine Zidane will not be the club's new manager, with Christophe Galtier poised to replace him.
Following a vacation from management, Zidane was anticipated to take over at PSG, but Galtier has pushed to the front of the queue to succeed Mauricio Pochettino in recent weeks. After leading Lille to a surprise Ligue 1 triumph in 2020/21, the manager spent last season with Nice.
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Speaking to Le Parisian, Al-Khelaifi insisted that the club had never been in talks with Zidane and have 'chosen another option'.
"Zinedine Zidane? I'll tell you one thing: we never spoke with him, neither directly nor indirectly. Many clubs are interested in him, national teams too, but we have never discussed with him," the PSG president said.
“We have chosen another option than Zidane. We've chosen a coach who will be the best for what we want to put in place. The fans disappointed to have Galtier and not Zidane? The dream is one thing, the reality another. Dreaming big is good but today, we must above all be realistic, we no longer want flashy, bling-bling, it's the end of glitter. We want reality," Al-Khelaifi added.
The PSG president also gave an update on talks with Nice over Galtier, stating that he is hopeful of finding an agreement. “We are having discussions with Nice," he said. "It's no secret. I hope we will find an agreement quickly," he added.
Several football enthusiasts took to Twitter to express their shock over this news, with some, mostly Real Madrid fans, saying that it was probably the French legend who rejected the top job at Parc des Princes. Here's a look at some of the reactions:
"we have decided" 😹 he literally rejected you https://t.co/SbFWKYD0e2
— kati (@benzeball)"we have decided" https://t.co/Ou7ussoE4X pic.twitter.com/nBNATLg8o8
— literallynoone (@literallynoonej)Simply say he rejected you, since Zidane doesn't have hair, he doesn't need your oil 😂 https://t.co/cCVkXOQxx5
— Zahid⚡🇦🇫 (@ElFactos7)Unexpected. https://t.co/qP2tVF8BWK
— CriticCuler (@CriticCuler)Hear me out... https://t.co/XVxHsIhNsh pic.twitter.com/EWrHyCXQRh
— 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖🇪🇦🇲🇦 (@asllaniSZN)Simplified: Zidane turned them down https://t.co/zmRCqGEh1J
— Lurch (@YngSweetJones_)that last line, what does he mean? https://t.co/jVj3h8QO1n pic.twitter.com/iw8UmSWhk6
— me again🔺 (@jasonffs_)PSG winning the Champions League with Gatlier would be the ultimate underdog story let's go❤️💙🤩 https://t.co/j5HMwQetPW pic.twitter.com/moYnVZ8vEY
— Hokage (@ChevKC)I remember saying he´ll never join. Not because of his
Real Madrid links, the clubs aren´t even rivals, but because he´s a Marseille fan. https://t.co/lbPIotjQA7
Once a madridista always a madridsta ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/BcYYvvllYg
— Jamal (@iamgmal)Him being a PSG manager would have made me stop watching football forever, seeing your childhood hero in that club in this time is something that I really can’t stand. https://t.co/pijnOgXU10
— 🦅 (@RMSalehx)Bro acting like zizou was gonna say yes💀💀💀💀 https://t.co/59RI9DuZoS
— Josh (@RMLad_13)You didn't "decide for an other option" homie he just rejected you HOLD THAT https://t.co/GvOWpLGxUL
— Charles - 14 🏆 (@LhicagoLubs)"Our tactical idea": https://t.co/fjh5xb4wKf pic.twitter.com/yxoSFuGYj2
— Asier (@asieerrrr)This is not what Mbappe signed for https://t.co/Crt3v0tADf
— R35L MADRID 🤍 (@NattyAdonis)Kylian Mpaypal since becoming the sheikh overlord at Paris Saint-Germain:
❌ Rejected by Paul Pogba
❌ Rejected by Aurélien Tchouameni
❌ Rejected by Ousmane Dembele
❌ Rejected by Zinedine Zidane
❌ Rejected by Jose Mourinho
Better than Leonardo? 🥶🥶🥶
Gran Foto! https://t.co/3eVxAuk0ZO
— calefón (@mftute)Zidane probably told them he isn't going to put mbappe's dick in his mouth https://t.co/HhyePoZ7F1
— OLAWALE And The BIG STEPPERS (@wallacemenace)Zinédine Zidane 🤍😅 pic.twitter.com/zRlIDHbfdJ
— Zidane (@Zidane_RMD5)Zidane rejected fraudessi 😭😭😭
— Ronnie G (@Goatnaldo___7)Nasser has to lie because he doesn’t want to admit Zidane said no because it’s shameful for him to admit.
We’ve seen this with the Mbappe situation. https://t.co/WQLbSP8NsX