The legendary Frenchman remains a towering figure in football history, having captured both the Champions League and World Cup as a player, before guiding Real Madrid to three Champions League titles as a manager. ..Continue Reading
Zidane’s playing journey began in France with Cannes, followed by a move to Bordeaux, where his talent began to attract global attention.
He later signed for Juventus, where he secured two Serie A championships during a successful stint in Italy.
In 2001, he transferred to Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of €77.5 million (around £46.2 million). He retired in 2006 but returned to manage the club twice, most recently stepping down in May 2021.
When asked which player he enjoys watching the most, Zidane named Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — a choice that might not sit well with some Real Madrid loyalists.
He said: “Regardless of position on the pitch, one player who makes me thrill every time he touches the ball is Lamine Yamal. Last season, against Inter at San Siro in the Champions League, he did everything on his own,”
Zidane also expressed admiration for PSG’s Portuguese midfielders Joao Neves and Vitinha, who were instrumental in the club’s treble-winning campaign last season.
He praised their technical quality, saying: “They never lose the ball.”
Yamal’s presence on Zidane’s list further highlights the rising stature of the young talent in world football.
Earlier this year, Thierry Henry also spoke glowingly about Yamal during an interview with SPORTbible as part of the ‘No Lay’s, No Game’ campaign.
“Lamine Yamal. I’ll tell you why. And it’s not because of what you think I’m going to say.
“It’s his maturity. I’ll explain. I have it clear in my head. Spain go 2-1 up against France at Euro 2024 in the semi-final.
“Unai Simon throws the ball to him and he controls it with the outside of his foot. He looks up and can go one-vs-one against [Theo] Hernandez. At that moment, you’re young. You’ve scored a goal. Who would have said anything if he took the ball and played the one-vs-one?
“It was minute 60-something. He touched the ball with the outside-of-his-foot, put it down, passed it back and said to everyone, ‘Calm down’.
Henry continued: “I said, ‘You’re doing that at your age already and it’s a wrap’. Think about it.
“That moment. In the semi-final, when you’ve scored a goal like that. You get carried away. Nobody would have said anything. He could have taken it one-on-one but he took the ball and passed it back.
“Honestly. I remember saying, ‘This guy is too good. He is on a different level.’ Please understand the level I’m talking about.
“Stepovers, nutmegs – yes he does that all the time. But for him to think about that in a game of that magnitude is something else.”
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