Zidane, present at the Bernabéu during the defeat against City even if his future is not linked to that of Xabi Alonso

The presence of Zinedine Zidane in the box Santiago Bernabéu during the Real Madrid – Manchester City This did not go unnoticed by anyone.

The cameras of DAZN They caught up with the legendary former White coach following a private box match which ended in a 1-2 defeat for the Merengue team, in the midst of a results crisis for the team managed by Xabi Alonso.

The appearance of Zidane immediately fueled rumors about a possible return to the Madrid bench, especially at such a delicate moment for the Basque coach, who has only two victories in the last eight matches played.

However, the reality is far from these speculations. Even if the name of the Marseillais resonates loudly every time Real Madrid goes through a difficult period, his presence in Chamartín It does not respond to any negotiations with the whiteboard.

Florentino Pérez and those around him are fully aware that Zidane has a clear roadmap which does not include, at least in the short term, a return to the Merengue team.

The former French player’s project consists of taking back the reins of the French team after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. The French media have been assuming an advanced agreement between Zidane and the club for months. French Football Federation take over Didier Deschamps who has already confirmed that he will step down after the World Cup in United States, Mexico And Canada.

Even if the president of FFF, Philippe Diallo, avoided official confirmations and left the door open to possible surprises, the consensus in France indicates that Zidane will be the one chosen to lead the team. The Blues.

This implicit commitment to the French team makes it virtually impossible for Zidane to agree to manage Real Madrid in the coming months, something the club’s senior management privately acknowledges.

In addition, the Frenchman gave unequivocal signs that his priority was on the national bench. He recently invested 10,000 euros in the Tourain Football Unione, a modest French third division club, reproducing a strategy that it has already used in the past with other French teams like Evian-Thonon-Gaillard or the Rodez.

This commitment to French grassroots football reinforces the idea that Zidane is building his future in his native country.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso risks his continuity every weekend. The defeat against City left the team in a compromised situation. Although in the Champions League they remain in the top eight, in La Liga they have accumulated four losses in the last five games.

Sunday’s match against Alavés Mendizorrosis This promises to be a real trial by fire for the Tolosa coach. If Real Madrid do not achieve victory, their departure could be hastened before Christmas.

In this hypothetical scenario, the name that gains the most traction as an emergency solution is Álvaro Arbeloa. The former white full-back, currently at the head of Castilla, appears to be the most accessible and realistic alternative for the board of directors if it has to make an immediate change. It was also mentioned Santiago Solari as a possible temporary solution.

Zidane, on the other hand, remains on the fringes of these equations, focused on a dream that seems to have a specific date: July 2026, when France will look for a new leader after the World Cup and will be ready to take on the next big challenge of his coaching career.