ZINEDINE ZIDANE has indicated his desire to return to management in the near future.

The former France midfielder has been taking a break since resigning from Real Madrid in May after guiding the Spanish club to a third successive Champions League title during his two-and-a-half years at the club.

Zidane is the favorite to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United if the Portuguese departs Old Trafford and he has suggested he is getting ready to return.

“Yes, surely. Soon I will return to training because it is what I like and is what I have done all my life,” Zidane told the Spanish broadcaster TVE on Monday.

A spell with Real is the only top-level experience taken in by the World Cup winner, but he proved himself capable at the Santiago Bernabeu and is well respected throughout the game.

Zidane is understood to be interested in the prospect of taking over at United should Mourinho leave the club, although Mourinho retains the backing of the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, for now.

A senior source at United said last month: “Why would we discuss Zidane when there is no job available?”

After back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Spurs, Mourinho eased mounting pressure with an impressive 2-0 win at Burnley just before the international break.

He told Italian reporters after the Burnley game that he did not think his job was under threat and joked that it would cost the club too much to sack him.

Mourinho’s relationship with Woodward and players came under strain during a troubled pre-season and difficult start to the campaign but Woodward has been keen to dismiss talk of a rift despite clear differences over the direction of the team in the summer transfer market.

Mourinho is, however, under pressure to deliver results after overseeing an inconsistent start to the new season.

If he is unable to turn the tide, then United will be left with little choice but to make a change.

(SD-Agencies)