Exclusive: Real Madrid legend has been discussed as potential Tuchel replacement says Romano

When Julian Nagelsmann withdrew himself from consideration for the Bayern Munich position on Friday, it undoubtedly caused a major dilemma for the board.

It’s been reported that Nagelsmann, the current manager of the German national team, had already negotiated terms with Bayern Munich, but he ultimately decided to remain in his current role, disrupting the process to replace Thomas Tuchel. Given Bayern’s challenging season, Nagelsmann’s decision was another setback.

As the end of the season approaches, the club will once again need to sift through their network to identify candidates still interested in the position, knowing they may be viewed as second choices after Nagelsmann.

Zidane’s discussion with Bayern has been verified

It’s crucial for the board to finalize their business promptly so that the new leader can begin working immediately after the 2023/24 season ends. This will be advantageous as new signings will want to know the direction of the project, the ambitions, and ideas of their prospective manager.

One individual whose name has already surfaced on social media is the former Real Madrid icon, Zinedine Zidane. Fabrizio Romano, speaking to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing, acknowledged that discussions about the Frenchman had taken place.

“Sticking with Bayern, well guys, they will discuss internally again about the manager’s position after Nagelsmann’s refusal, waiting to understand who will be the new front runner for the job,” he said.

“There are a few names in the frame and it’s true that Zinedine Zidane has been discussed internally as an option.l

“There was a meeting to discuss managers and Zidane was mentioned, but it was weeks ago, nothing concrete since then.”

Certainly, it’s going to take a special job to tempt Zidane back onto the bench at any club, and being the man to take a poor Bayern side and give them renewed determination, particularly in the Bundesliga, may well appeal.

Since Romano mentions that there haven’t been recent talks, it could imply that Zidane was never a definite contender for the position. Whether he’s in the running or not, it’s beneficial for everyone to have clarity on the current situation.

While it’s hard to picture Zidane anywhere other than Real Madrid’s bench, it doesn’t mean he’ll stay in the background indefinitely—especially if Bayern can offer him an enticing challenge.