Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid quit decision centred around Man Utd transfer row - report
ZINEDINE ZIDANE chose to quit Real Madrid because club president Florentino Perez wanted to pursue a deal for Manchester United’s David De Gea, according to reports.
Zidane confirmed he was leaving Real Madrid today, announcing the decision in an emotional press conference.
The decision has sent shockwaves reverberating around the footballing world, with Real now expected to chase Mauricio Pochettino as his replacement.
Express Sport understands Zidane has cited exhaustion as a reason for his Real Madrid exit.
But Spanish outlet Don Balon say Manchester United actually influenced his thinking.
It is said he met Perez face to face where they outlined a plan for the future.
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Zidane reportedly told the Los Blancos chief he wanted both Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas to stay.
Benzema scored in the Champions League final but failed to find his best form.
Navas, meanwhile, blew hot and cold to prompt talk of a move away.
Yet Don Balon say Perez refused and instead expressed a desire to sign United goalkeeper De Gea.
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The Spain international nearly moved to Real in 2015, only for a faulty fax machine to scupper a deal.
Perez is still, however, keen and with De Gea yet to sign a new United deal, sees a transfer as possible.
He also reportedly wanted Harry Kane.
But Zidane, fed up of Perez interfering, then supposedly stunned the Real chief by choosing to quit instead.