Zidane agrees to return to Real Madrid –Reports

Zinedine Zidane has agreed to return to Real Madrid as manager, according to French publication L’Equipe.

Zidane won an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles with Real before resigning in May last year.

Former Spain coach, Julen Lopetegui replaced Zidane but was sacked in October with Solari taking the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu, but is set to be ousted himself later on Monday.

Solari’s side saw their season fall apart in the space of a week with back-to-back defeats in El Classico in the Copa del Rey and La Liga leaving them 12 points behind rivals Barcelona; while a 4-1 home loss to Ajax in the Champions League, which saw them eliminated 5-3 on aggregate, compounded the pressure on Solari.

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It was reported after Madrid’s 4-1 weekend win against Real Valladolid that Solari, 42, was to be relieved of his duties on Monday, less than four months after he was given the job on a permanent basis.

Reports of Zidane’s return to the Bernabeu emerged early on Monday afternoon, with Cadena COPE, Onda Cero, and La Sexta all reporting that Zidane, who had been linked to Juventus, had agreed to once more take the reins at Real.

La Sexta on El Chiringuito de Jugones added that Zidane would likely be re-appointed late on Monday after the confirmation of Solari’s dismissal and could take training as early as Tuesday.