Sources: No talks between Zidane and Bayern

Zinedine Zidane has not been contacted by Bayern Munich to take over as manager when Thomas Tuchel leaves at the end of the season, sources have told ESPN.

Zidane, a three-time Champions League winner during his managerial reign at Real Madrid, has been heavily linked with the role in Spanish media in recent days, but sources insisted to ESPN that no talks have taken place.

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The likelihood of the 1998 World Cup winner being considered for the role increased on Friday when Julian Nagelsmann, who had reportedly been in advanced talks to return to the Bavarian giants as head coach after being sacked last March, extended his deal with the Germany men’s national team until 2026.

Sources said that Zidane is on Bayern’s shortlist, though he is below Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Austria coach Ralf Rangnick and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness.

Zidane himself is not convinced by the idea of managing in Munich, sources added to ESPN, largely due to the language barrier. Zidane speaks neither German nor English fluently, and considers communication and man-management crucial to his success.

However, Zidane’s agent Alain Migliaccio is very close to Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness.

Zidane hasn’t coached since the end of his second stint at Madrid in the summer of 2021. The three consecutive Champions League titles won by Madrid in 2016, 2017 and 2018 remain the only occasion in the competition’s modern era where a team has lifted the trophy three times in a row.

Bayern manager Tuchel is to leave at the end of the season after a disappointing campaign which has seen them fail to win the Bundesliga title after 11 years of domestic dominance. They have however progressed to the Champions League semfinals, having ousted Arsenal 3-2 over two legs.