Zidane is the key to new Real Madrid poject, says president Perez



Madrid: Zinadine Zidane is the key to Real's future according to Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez. Jose Mourinho is about to leave Real Madrid after serving the club for three years. He would be leaving the club after Real's last encounter of the season against Osasuna and PSG's manager Carlo Ancelotti is rumored to take over the responsibility after Mourinho's departure.

Perez cleared the air over the appointment of a new manager stating that the new  manager would be working alongside Zinedine Zidane whose current advisory role at the club would be stepped up should Perez's re-election as president for the next four years be confirmed next week.

"If there are no other candidates (for the presidency), on Tuesday we will take possession and start with the subject of the coach," he told radio station Cadena Ser in an interview on Monday night.

"First we will speak with the coach, because although people don't believe it, we have still not spoken with anybody. We want this to be led by Zidane. I would also like it if he was Madrid coach some day."

"Once the coach arrives, he and Zidane will look at what we can do to take a step up in quality. Zidane will be the one entrusted to make the new signings with the coach."

Perez also defended out-going manager's decision to drop Iker Casillas although he disagreed with Mourinho's decision.

"What happens is that when Mourinho makes a mistake it has worldwide attention.

"Although the club thinks that Casillas is the best in the world, you can't enter into a technical decision."

With Mourinho, most likely to move to Chelsea next season after completing his contractual obligations with the club, Real would be looking for new recruits at the earliest and would want to draw up plans for the next season with a new manager at the helm.