Reports suggest that Zinedine Zidane has no inclination to assume the managerial reins at Manchester United despite purported interest from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new minority shareholder.

Speculation surrounding Erik ten Hag’s tenure persists, with Ratcliffe and his INEOS team reportedly contemplating a managerial switch ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season.

A recent report has hinted at Ratcliffe’s aspiration to appoint Zidane, who has been unoccupied since departing Real Madrid in May 2021.

Nevertheless, according to inews, Zidane is deemed highly unlikely to entertain an offer from Manchester United, citing his lack of inclination to manage in England and his belief that the club does not align with his current managerial aspirations.

The report further indicates that Zidane is in no hurry to return to managerial duties and intends to wait for the appropriate opportunity.

Bayern Munich is also purportedly eyeing him as a potential successor to Thomas Tuchel. Meanwhile, Dan Ashworth, soon-to-be-appointed sporting director at Manchester United, is reported to have engaged in discussions with former Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea manager Graham Potter regarding a role at Old Trafford.

Potter is purportedly favored by Ratcliffe and is considered a frontrunner to succeed Ten Hag should a managerial change materialize at the conclusion of the ongoing campaign.

Roberto De Zerbi, the current manager of Brighton, is also linked with the position, while Simone Inzaghi, the head coach of Inter Milan, reportedly garners admiration within the club.

Ten Hag, as of yet, has not received public backing from Ratcliffe, who is anticipated to await the conclusion of the season before making a definitive decision on the Dutchman’s future.

Manchester United’s recent form has been commendable, with seven victories, one draw, and one loss in nine matches across all competitions.

Their advancement to the FA Cup quarter-finals was secured through a 1-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest last week.

However, a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League dealt a blow to their aspirations for a Champions League berth.

The club currently occupies the sixth position in the league standings, trailing fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by three points and fourth-placed Aston Villa by eight.

Manchester United’s forthcoming fixtures include Premier League encounters against Manchester City and Everton before hosting Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final on March 17th at Old Trafford.

Main image: By Patrick Gaudin from Marseille, France – P1070029, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20106489

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