Europe’s football powerhouses have been plunged into a covert tug-of-war, with Real Madrid and Liverpool launching a stealth campaign to coax Zinedine Zidane out of his four-year absence from the dugout, sources linked to both clubs told The Athletic late Tuesday.
At Madrid, Xabi Alonso’s once-promising start has unraveled into chaos: a crushing 5–2 derby humiliation against Atlético, simmering tensions with Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, and a dressing room that no longer looks united behind him. Should Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Olympiacos go wrong, the Bernabéu hierarchy has already earmarked Zidane as their emergency fallback — prepared to hand him a €25 million budget and full control over squad decisions.
Across the Premier League, Liverpool have quietly entered the fray. Arne Slot’s side, battered by a shocking 4–1 collapse at Anfield to PSV — their eighth loss in eleven matches and a third consecutive heavy defeat — has dispatched representatives to meet Zidane in Paris. Their proposal includes Jürgen Klopp’s backing and a €20 million fund to spark a revival of Liverpool’s fading campaign.
The French icon, who hinted last October during a charitable appearance in Toulon that he would “return soon,” is said to be intrigued by both offers but remains wary, insiders claim. Madrid are appealing to history: a potential third spell for the coach who delivered an unprecedented hat-trick of Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018, with club president Florentino Pérez pushing the narrative of “unfinished business” amid Alonso’s tactical missteps and internal conflicts.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are presenting a more daring pitch — positioning Zidane as the strategic mastermind Klopp once praised before the 2018 Champions League final, promising the allure of conquering the Premier League without the constant glare of Madrid’s superstar politics. Yet murmurs from those close to Zidane indicate his long-held desire to take charge of the French national team, where he is widely viewed as the favorite to replace Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup, a factor that could derail both clubs’ plans.
With Alonso wrestling the fallout of a labored 1–1 draw against Girona, and Slot bracing for a critical Merseyside derby, the situation is reaching a breaking point. Zidane’s silence has become the fuse in a powder keg — and his eventual decision could either rescue one of Europe’s wounded giants or deepen their crisis.
Supporters are already polarizing online. Madrid fans have revived the #ZidaneVuelve movement, while Liverpool’s most passionate groups are circulating emotional “You’ll Never Walk Alone” edits set to the soundtrack of Zidane’s legendary Champions League volleys. Betting markets have reacted swiftly, slashing odds on a move to Anfield from 12/1 to 3/1, while Spanish media report whispers of senior players lobbying for Zidane’s return. As transfer insider Fabrizio Romano warns: “Zidane doesn’t hurry — he chooses the moment.”
Will he answer Anfield’s call for a rebirth, or reclaim the white throne that defined his legacy? Whatever he decides, one truth remains: this hidden battle isn’t just about hiring a manager — it’s about securing the spark that could lead a European resurgence, leaving the defeated side to confront wounds far deeper than any failed signing.
