Paris, Jan 9 (EFE).- Real Madrid, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and the French government have accused the president of the French football federation of disrespecting Zinedine Zidane during an inflammatory interview in which he said he would not pick up the phone to the France legend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No\u00ebl Le Gra\u00ebt\u2019s remarks came a day after the FFF confirmed a contract extension for the national team\u2019s current head coach Didier Deschamps until 2026, the year of the next Fifa World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pressed for his opinion on Zidane\u2019s chances of managing Brazil now that the France job was taken, the FFF chief told RMC Sunday radio that he did not \u201cgive a damn, he can go where he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Le Gra\u00ebt, 81, added that he \u201cwouldn\u2019t even pick up the phone\u201d to Zidane if the former Real Madrid player and manager had called to discuss the role of France coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo say what? Hello sir, don\u2019t worry, look for another club, I\u2019m sticking with Didier,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Current France star Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 voiced his disapproval in a tweet to his over 11 million followers Sunday saying: \u201cZidane is France, don\u2019t disrespect a legend like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Retired France stars including Franck Ribery and Djibril Cisse also came to Zidane\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, French sports minister Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra called on Le Gra\u00ebt to apologize for his \u201cshameful\u201d statements.
Real Madrid, where Zidane holds legendary status as a former player and manager, released an official statement Monday urging Le Gra\u00ebt to rectify his \u201cinappropriate comments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cZinedine Zidane, World and European champion representing his country, amongst many other honors, embodies the values of the sport and has proven this throughout his professional career as a player and as a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time, Zidane secured hero status at Juventus and Real Madrid in a career that lasted until 2006. Zizou also made 108 appearances for France and lifted the 1998 World Cup after scoring twice in a thrilling final against Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After hanging up his boots, Zidane returned to the bench as a coach, working his way up to manage Real Madrid\u2019s senior team from 2016-18 and again from 2019-21, in which time he won three Uefa Champions League titles. EFE
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