Zinedine Zidane ‘demanded’ that Manchester United sign four players if he was to join the club as manager, it was reported – with the club eventually doing a deal for one of them.
Zinedine Zidane Wanted Four Players at Manchester United – But Only Got One
Zinedine Zidane once had a clear transfer wishlist for Manchester United, but the club only managed to deliver on one of his four demands.
The French legend, repeatedly linked with the Old Trafford dugout after his Real Madrid exit in 2021, reportedly identified four signings as conditions if he were to take charge. While Zidane never ended up in Manchester, his list has since come to light.
According to the Daily Mirror, Zidane targeted James Rodriguez, then on loan at Bayern Munich; Toni Kroos, who had come close to joining United under David Moyes; and Thiago Alcantara, the Bayern midfielder who eventually signed for Liverpool in 2020.
The only name United actually secured was Edinson Cavani, who arrived on a free transfer in 2020 after leaving PSG. The Uruguayan striker had a strong debut season, scoring 17 goals, but struggled for minutes following Cristiano Ronaldo’s return. He left for Valencia in 2022 and now plays for Boca Juniors at age 38.
United, meanwhile, opted for other managerial options. Zidane stayed away from England—citing the language barrier—and is now linked with a move to Fenerbahce after their Champions League exit to Benfica.
