Zidane is said to be eager to return to management following a two-year hiatus but has chosen to reject the PSG job. As a result, Julian Nagelsmann, who left Bayern Munich earlier this year, emerges as a top candidate for the position. Reports from Le Parisien indicate that approaches were made to Zidane, but he declined the opportunity to manage the club, despite recognizing that Real Madrid is no longer an option. Luis Enrique and Xabi Alonso, the current manager of Bayer Leverkusen, are also rumored to be on PSG's shortlist.
PSG faces a challenging task of rebuilding their squad this summer after confirming Lionel Messi's departure. It is widely anticipated that Neymar will also leave the club, as his relationship with the fans has reached an all-time low, six years after his record-breaking transfer from Barcelona.
Following this season's disappointments, the club is expected to adopt a different approach in the transfer market, focusing on younger, domestic talents rather than high-profile names that were previously prioritized. Despite 12 years under Qatari ownership, PSG has yet to fulfill their ambition of winning a Champions League title.
Among the names linked to the club, Zidane is the only one with a proven track record in the competition, having secured three victories as the manager of a star-studded Real Madrid team. Any manager joining PSG will face the challenge of keeping Kylian Mbappe content, as the French forward has persistently been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
The decision to decline PSG's offer may be influenced by the current situation at Juventus, a crisis-hit Serie A club that has been deducted 10 points this season. This leaves a rebuilding job for Max Allegri, their long-term manager. Zidane, who played for Juventus between 1996 and 2001, is believed to be open to managing the Turin club in the future.
In an interview with Telefoot earlier this year, the 50-year-old Zidane emphasized his coaching abilities, expressing his continued passion for the sport and his desire to contribute at the highest level. He stated, "Am I still able to contribute things as a coach? Yes, many things, or I think at least some! I want to continue with that career because I still have the desire – it is my passion. I am 50 years old, fulfilled, I'm happy, that's the most important thing."