Exclusive | Zinédine Zidane remains PSG owners’ first choice to replace Christophe Galtier

According to sources contacted by Get French Football News, Zinédine Zidane remains QSI’s first-choice candidate for the managerial role at Paris Saint-Germain. 

The names linked with the managerial hot seat at the Parc des Princes are multiplying. José Mourinho has been heavily linked with the role, although the Portuguese manager has publically denied any contact with Les Parisiens. Thiago Motta, a former PSG player, Xabi Alonso, Luis Enrique, Marcelo Gallardo and Abel Ferreira have also been mooted as potential successors to Christophe Galtier. 

Whilst nothing is confirmed, it is expected that the Frenchman won’t be on the bench at PSG next season, as previously reported by L’Équipe and RMC Sport. However, his sacking is dependent on bringing in the right candidate. 

Get French Football News understands that whilst Mourinho is an option, and talks between the current AS Roma manager and Luís Campos have been taking place since February, he is not the priority. As a result, no proposal has been made, and Les Parisiens will only make a move for the former Chelsea manager, should their attempts to seduce the Emir of Qatar’s first-choice prove unsuccessful. 

Zidane remains the ownership’s first choice, as he was last year. Ultimately, last summer QSI were convinced by Campos’ desire to reunite with Galtier, although there was a feeling that the club could have pushed harder to bring Zidane to the Parc des Princes. 

However, convincing Zidane this summer won’t be an easy task either. Last summer, there was a feeling that the former Real Madrid manager was waiting on the France job, but Didier Deschamps signed a new deal until 2026 with the national team following France’s World Cup final defeat against Argentina. 

However, PSG still aren’t getting positive responses from Zidane, despite making a proposal that would put him in the top three highest-paid coaches in football currently. If Doha give up on convincing Zidane to join, Mourinho is one of the plan B options that would be explored by PSG. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle