Newcastle owners ‘line up Zinedine Zidane as manager’ in audacious club coup
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Newcastle’s Saudi owners are reportedly lining up a blockbuster takeover of Marseille and apparently want Zinedine Zidane to lead their project if their bid is successful. The Public Investment Fund is supposedly keen to buy struggling Marseille from American businessman Frank McCourt.
Marseille have endured a tough start to the new Ligue 1 season, winning just two of their first six games. They also failed to reach the Champions League group stages after losing against Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round.
Head coach Marcelino quit after just seven games following pressure from the club’s ultras. Gennaro Gattuso has replaced the Spaniard.
PIF has reportedly identified Marseille as a target in a bid to overhaul their fortunes. The public fund owns 80 per-cent of Newcastle and has already enjoyed vast success, despite allegations of sportswashing and strong criticism of their approach.
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According to FranceBleu, PIF has sensationally agreed with legendary former player Zidane that he will manage the club. However, the ex-midfield ace insists he would only consider the job if the takeover is completed in full.
Zidane has supposedly been offered vast funds should PIF gain control of the club. The report adds that the former Real Madrid coach is confident that he can challenge the best teams in the world with the resources he has been promised.
The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. He has been loosely linked with the Manchester United and Chelsea jobs during his unemployment, but publicly ruled out managing in England while he is not completely fluent in the language.
“Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it,” he told L’Equipe in 2022.
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“I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way. Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win.”
PIF would have many things to consider should it complete a full takeover of Marseille. Clubs competing in the same UEFA competition cannot be directly or indirectly controlled by the same entity.
Marseille could end up in the same UEFA competitions alongside PIF-controlled Newcastle. It remains to be seen how PIF plans to adapt to that rule.
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