Zinedine Zidane clashes with journalist after "stupid" Real Madrid question

Zinedine Zidane was involved in a spiky public spat with a Spanish reporter after he took offence to a question asked about his Real Madrid departure.

The legendary Frenchman called time on his second stint as Real boss following their failure to win a trophy in the 2020/21 season.

It's the second time Zidane has walked away from the Santiago Bernabeu, this time being replaced by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Following his exit, the 48-year-old penned an open letter to Los Blancos supporters admitting he felt a lack of respect from certain figures at the club and no longer had the faith of president Florentino Perez.

"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," Zidane explained in the later, printed in AS.

WRight now, things are different. I'm leaving because I feel the club no longer has the faith in me I need, nor the support to build something in the medium or long term.

"I understand football and I know the demands of a club like Real Madrid. I know when you don't win, you have to leave.

"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."

The letter continued: "I want there to be respect for what we have achieved together.

"I would have liked my relationship with the club and the president over the past few months to have been a little different to that of other coaches.

"I wasn't asking for privileges, of course not, just a little more recollection."

Who will Zinedine Zidane manage next after leaving Real Madrid? Let us know in the comments

In footage obtained by Spanish news outlet Directo Gol TV, Zidane was approached and asked if he had any regrets about his candid letter to fans.

Despite ignoring the initial question, he then turned around and snapped back: "Are you going to keep asking the same stupid questions? Your job is shameful.

"It's always the same with you. We know each other, the same always happens.

"You come here, come talk to me. You go."

Reports in Spain have claimed that Zidane will now take a break from management as he plots his next move in the game.

Libertad Digital report he will wait to succeed Didier Deschamps as France national team manager, a post which he could leave following the World Cup in Qatar at the end of next year.