The French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet while speaking to announce Didier Deschamps’ renewal as France manager stated that:
“I don’t care, he can go wherever he wants” Le Graet told RMC Sport.
“I know very well that Zidane was always on the radar. He had a lot of supporters; some were waiting for Deschamps’s departure… but who can make serious reproaches to Deschamps? Nobody”.
“He [Zidane] does what he wants; it’s none of my business. I’ve never met him, we’ve never considered parting with Didier”.
“He can go where he wants, to a club. If Zidane tried to contact me? Certainly not, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone.”
However, his statements on the French football legend did not go down well with many.
PSG and France national team striker Kylian Mbappe said via Twitter:
“Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that.”
Real Madrid FC also released a statement supporting Zidane:
“Real Madrid C.F. laments the unfortunate comments made by the president of the French Football Federation, Nöel Le Graët, regarding Zinedine Zidane, one of the world’s biggest sporting legends”.
“These remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world and our club is awaiting an immediate correction”.
“Zinedine Zidane, World and European champion representing his country, amongst many other honours, he embodies the values of the sport and has proven this throughout his professional career as a player and as a coach”.
“The statements by the president of the French Football Federation are inappropriate for someone holding such representation and are in themselves unsuitable, like those he also made about our captain Karim Benzema, current Ballon d’Or, Nations League champion with France in 2021 and winner of 5 Champions Leagues, amongst many other honours.”
