Zinédine Zidane will closely follow the clash of the 3rd day of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Juventus, Wednesday evening (9 p.m.). These are obviously his two former clubs outside France in which he became a world reference at the time. Residing in the Spanish capital, the probable future coach of the France team will perhaps even go to Santiago-Bernabéu to see Kylian Mbappé at work against Khephren Thuram.
Recruited in 1996 from the Girondins de Bordeaux, in the wake of his title of best player in D1, the native of Marseille established himself as one of the best playmakers in Serie A (with the 21 on his back), winning the scudetto in 1997 and 1998. He also and above all took the French team to the coronation at the 1998 World Cup, scoring a double in the final against the Brazil. The 98 Ballon d'Or became the priority target of Florentino PĂ©rez, who became president of Real.
The boss of Casa Blanca met “Zizou” in August 2000 during the UEFA gala and then ensured the arrival of the French international. As Fréderic Hermel tells RMC, Pérez asked Zidane if he wanted to sign for Real, writing in French on a white napkin, and the Bianconeri then wrote “yes” in English !
Zidane, the most expensive player in history
Real Madrid failed to sign Zidane in the same summer as Luis Figo but then negotiated a record transfer with the Old Lady, at 75 million euros. The most expensive footballer in history at the time, the 2000 European champion signed a five-year contract (which will therefore never be extended), with an extraordinary salary of one million francs net per week (6 million euros per year). His presentation at the Bernabéu took place on July 8, 2001.
Zinédine Zidane was the headliner of Florentino Pérez's Real Galacticos and offered the 2002 Champions League to the Merengues with a legendary volley against Leverkusen. But contrary to what one might think, Zidane did not win much else at Real, being champion of Spain only once and not winning any Copa del Rey despite two contested finals.
