Zinedine Zidane set for shock Real Madrid return: Santiago Solari to be axed

The Frenchman parted company with Real Madrid after guiding them to their third successive Champions League triumph.

The Spaniard have been a shambles since Zidane departure, sacking his successor Julen Lopetegui four-and-a-months into his reign.

Former Real midfielder Santiago Solari was succeeded Lopetegui but has failed to get turn things around.

And according to multiple reports, the Argentine’s failure to steady the ship has prompted Real president Florentino Perez to re-install Zidane as the club’s manager.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague appeared to confirm the news during an appearance on Eleven Sports, saying: “That’s right, Zinedine Zidane will be in charge of Real Madrid.

“He will take training tomorrow. It should be announced pretty soon.

“As you said, there’s a board meeting where basically everybody will say, ‘Yeah, okay.’

“Because that has been decided by Florentino Perez and Jose Angel Sanchez – the two men who are in charge of the side.

“So there’s a bit of protocol so the board has to know about it.

But what is interest is the moment that Real Madrid went through their worst week in history – and there’s no other way to put it, everything was lost in one week – Florentino Perez decided that a big decision had to be taken.

“And that meant ringing around to see who was available, what possibilities there were.

“Getting rid of Santi Solari, that was decided very early on. And they were a little bit surprised and taken aback when Zidane said, ‘No, I don’t know. I’m not so sure. Maybe in June we’ll see.’

“But the way to convince him was to guarantee him the authority he demanded in the summer and that he was not given.

“So he’s now in charge of all the big decision at Real Madrid.”

Former Real Madrid chief Jose Mourinho was also linked with a stunning return to the Bernabeu, with it being claimed that Perez had been in contact with the Portuguese.

Mourinho – who was relieved of his duties as Manchester United manager in December – denied that notion and insisted he’s not been in contact with his old club.

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