Mourinho, Zidane on collision course

Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane is on collision course with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, claims Marca.

The report suggests the French legend has sought to distance himself from the first team in recent months, having become disillusioned with a job he deems ‘pompous’ according to several observers.

Instead he is looking to concentrate on the club’s younger players and is even contemplating taking his coaching badge in his native country.

It is understood that the two men are now on different wavelengths, with Mourinho having criticised Zidane’s lack of involvement with the squad.

The Portuguese is even quoted by a journalist from Cadena Ser as commenting that ‘he [Zidane] says he does nothing, but there has been no word from him, no action’.

Ironically, it was Mourinho who first asked for a more hands-on approach from Zidane as he sought an ally in his war of words with former sporting director Jorge Valdano at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, the relationship appears to have soured, at least for the moment, with Mourinho is believed to want somebody to perform a role more like the one Luis Figo fulfils at Inter, where he travels with team and is close to the players.

It is reported that Zidane is not completely at ease with his position and it may be significant he was not included in the club’s official photograph for the 2012-13 campaign.

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