Zinedine Zidane reacted angrily to being questioned about his exit from Real Madrid, telling one intrusive journalist: “Come here, let me talk to you without the cameras.”
Spanish TV channel Directo Gol shared a video of the French manager out in public, being questioned by a journalist on whether writing an open letter on his departure from Real at the end of last season had been a mistake.
Zidane, understandably vexed at being accosted while out with his family, immediately bit back as he accused the journalist of asking stupid questions.
🙄 A Zidane siguen sin gustarle las preguntas de @SQuirante…
#⃣ #DirectoGolEuro pic.twitter.com/7Bx6TspQFB
— DirectoGol (@DirectoGol) June 13, 2021
“Are you still asking the same dumb questions as before? Your job is a disgrace,” replied Zidane, speaking in Spanish.
“It’s always the same with you. I know you and you know me. Come here, let me talk to you without the cameras.”
Journalist: Did you leave Real Madrid in a bad way?
Zidane: Are you still asking the same dumb questions as before? Your job is a disgrace. It’s always the same with you. I know you and you know me. Come here, let me talk to you without the cameras.pic.twitter.com/ZZpXrUDALo
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 13, 2021
Hardly the first time the iconic former France midfielder has lost his cool. However many will argue it was understandable given the circumstances.
Zidane chose to walk away from his second stint as Real boss at the end of the last campaign, Los Blancos having being pipped to the league title by Atletico Madrid.
In an open letter to the fans of Real Madrid published in AS, Zidane explained that he felt the club’s hierarchy no longer had faith in him, hence his departure.
“I’m going, but I’m not jumping overboard, nor am I tired of coaching,” Zidane wrote. “In May 2018 I left because after two and a half years, with so many victories and so many trophies, I felt the team needed a new approach to stay at the very highest level. Right now, things are different.
“But with this a very important thing has been forgotten, everything I built day-to-day has been forgotten, what I brought to my relationships with the players, with the 150 people who work with and around the team.
“I’m a natural-born winner and I was here to win trophies, but even more important than this are the people, their feelings, life itself and I have the sensation these things have not been taken into account.”
You just can’t tame the hot blooded marseillais hahaha. https://t.co/2Lqpf0Cguf
— Karim 🇨🇵 (@000Homelander) June 13, 2021
The letter provoked quite a reaction and it’s something Zidane is clearly not ready to be questioned on.
At least, not while he’s walking down the street with his wife and family, anyway.
Imagery: PA Images/Directo Gol/Twitter