The French FA has scheduled a press conference in Paris to confirm what has become the worst-kept secret in French football. Zidane, who lifted the World Cup and European Championship as a player for France, steps into the role following Deschamps’ 14-year tenure.

Proven pedigree at club level

Zidane arrives with an exceptional managerial CV from his time at Real Madrid. He remains the only coach in history to win three consecutive Champions League titles, achieving the feat in 2016, 2017 and 2018. During two spells at the Bernabéu, he also extracted the best from a galaxy of stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić and Casemiro.

However, the 52-year-old has been without a job since resigning from Madrid in 2021 after a trophyless campaign. His last competitive match came nearly four years ago, raising questions about how he will adapt to the rhythm of international football.

Tactical philosophy and squad riches

Those who worked under Zidane describe a coach who prioritises player expression over rigid systems. “My target is that players have fun on the pitch,” he said during his first Madrid press conference. He favours tactical flexibility, having deployed formations ranging from 4-3-3 to a diamond midfield with a classic number ten—a role he famously occupied during his own playing career.

According to L’Equipe, Zidane has been encouraged by France’s recent shift towards a more proactive, attacking style following a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign. The newspaper suggests Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise has caught Zidane’s eye as a potential creative fulcrum, with the 23-year-old having recently become the first player to register seven assists at a single World Cup.

The new manager inherits a squad brimming with elite talent. William Saliba, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé offer a blend of youth and experience that mirrors the star-studded Madrid dressing rooms Zidane previously commanded.

Man-management and national team challenges

Zidane’s greatest strength may lie in his ability to handle oversized egos. “I worked with many coaches and some gifted players who had big egos. I know the dressing room and I know very well how players think,” he once noted. Former Madrid midfielder Isco echoed this sentiment, stating: “He is one of the best players in the history of football. So you pay attention to anything he has to say.”

International management presents a different challenge to club football, with less time on the training ground and greater emphasis on motivation and harmony. Yet Zidane’s aura—Mbappé was only seven years old when Zidane dazzled against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals—should command immediate respect from a generation who grew up idolising him.

The French FA will hope that Zidane’s blend of tactical acumen and emotional intelligence can restore Les Bleus to the summit of world football after the relative disappointment of recent tournaments.

The proposed agreement features a net base salary of €20 million per season, with performance bonuses potentially increasing his earnings to €30 million annually. This structure allows Real Madrid to approach the salary Vinícius sought without distorting the club’s wage hierarchy, similar to the bonus-heavy architecture used when signing Kylian Mbappé last summer.

Saudi interest fades as talks progress

The renewal marks a decisive shift from earlier this year, when the forward had contemplated a lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League. However, ESPN reports that no fresh contact has emerged from Saudi Arabia since December, and the direction of travel has firmly moved towards remaining in Spain.

His current contract, signed in 2022 and running until June 2027, predates his subsequent rise to FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player award and his Ballon d’Or runner-up finish. A new deal covering the period until 2030 would secure his peak years, taking the forward through to age 29.

Performance context and precedents

Despite criticism regarding consistency this season, Vinícius has contributed 11 goals in 28 La Liga matches and eight goals in 12 Champions League appearances. Since arriving from Santos in 2018 as a teenager, he has won three La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns, scoring in both finals.

The contract structure reflects Real Madrid’s desire to reward the version of Vinícius that delivers in decisive moments and wins individual honours. The club recently extended Aurélien Tchouaméni’s contract to 2031 and renewed Thibaut Courtois without significant difficulty, but the Vinícius negotiations have proven more complex due to the figures involved and his camp’s willingness to test the club’s financial limits.

Should both parties formalise the reported near-agreement, the deal would remove the risk of Vinícius entering the final 18 months of his current contract and potentially negotiating with foreign clubs from January 2027. The resolution would provide crucial stability as Los Blancos manage their squad through the post-Mbappé transition and pursue continued success in European competition.

Güler arrived from Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2023 for a fee of €30 million, yet a definitive starting position has remained elusive. He has featured across multiple roles—including the right wing, right interior, and deeper positions in build-up play—demonstrating adaptability but lacking the fixed tactical assignment that might maximise his natural strengths.

The Özil Blueprint

The comparison between Güler and Özil extends beyond their shared Turkish heritage. Both players possess progressive passing range, exceptional vision in tight spaces, and the ability to deliver the decisive final ball. Mourinho, who extracted the finest performances from Özil during their previous collaboration, appears intent on recreating that supplier-striker dynamic.

Central to this tactical vision is Kylian Mbappé. Reports indicate that Mourinho aims to exploit the combination play Güler has already begun developing with the French forward. Mbappé currently occupies the structural role once filled by Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting Güler could replicate the creative supply function that Özil provided during Ronaldo’s prolific years at the club.

Pre-Season Advantage

The timing offers Mourinho a valuable opportunity. Turkey’s early elimination from the World Cup means Güler returns for pre-season without the disruption or delayed arrival that accompanies a deep international run. This grants the manager a full window to implement specific tactical instruction and establish whether the concept can deliver similar results within his evolving system.

Whether Mourinho has formally communicated this specific remit to Güler internally remains unconfirmed. Nevertheless, the coming weeks represent a crucial period for the midfielder to press his case for a defined role after a period of positional rotation. Such a shift would mark a significant evolution from his utility across the forward line, potentially anchoring him as the primary creative force rather than a rotational option.

The 1998 World Cup winner has remained outside management since departing the Santiago Bernabéu in 2021. His return sees him take charge of the national side he represented with distinction as a player, including captaining Les Bleus to their maiden World Cup triumph on home soil.

Contract and Timeline

Zidane is expected to sign a four-year deal with the French Football Federation. The agreement would secure his position through to the 2030 World Cup, giving him the opportunity to oversee two complete major tournament cycles with the current generation of French talent.

This long-term commitment suggests a strategic approach to squad development, allowing time to integrate emerging players while maintaining the competitive standards set during recent successful eras for the national team.

Immediate Challenges

The new manager’s first competitive fixture presents a stern examination. France will travel to Turkey in late September for their opening match of the 2026-2027 Nations League campaign. The away fixture offers Zidane an early opportunity to assess his squad against organised opposition in a high-stakes competitive environment.

The Nations League assignment begins a new chapter for a side seeking to reclaim its position at the summit of international football. Zidane’s record of three consecutive Champions League victories with Real Madrid demonstrates his capacity to manage elite talent, though the rhythms of international football differ markedly from club management.

His appointment concludes the search for a permanent manager and establishes a clear direction as France prepare for the upcoming qualifying campaigns and future tournament ambitions.

The 34-year-old Brazilian has agreed a one-year deal running until the end of the 2027 “sprint season”, with an option to extend through the 2028-29 campaign. However, the league confirmed it is reviewing how Inter Miami secured the discovery rights to negotiate with the player.

Discovery Rights and Investigation

Under MLS regulations, clubs maintain lists of up to five external players for whom they hold priority signing rights. Teams can negotiate transfers of these discovery rights between themselves, as happened when Los Angeles Galaxy paid Charlotte FC $400,000 for Marco Reus’s rights in 2024. Inter Miami acquired Casemiro’s discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy, allowing them to complete the signing.

The league confirmed it is examining how the Florida club secured the right to negotiate with the former Real Madrid star. “While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the Discovery Priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation,” MLS said. The league did not specify whether the allegation concerns direct contact with Casemiro prior to securing the rights, or the manner in which the rights were obtained.

Career Pedigree

The São Paulo native arrives with substantial silverware from European football. He won five Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns during his decade at Real Madrid before spending four seasons at Manchester United, where he lifted the 2023-24 FA Cup.

Casemiro also represented Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, where the Seleçao were eliminated by Norway in the last 16. He now joins an Inter Miami squad already featuring Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez as the club defends its 2025 MLS Cup title.

Club Welcome

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas praised the acquisition, saying: “Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game.”

Co-owner David Beckham added: “He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”

The deal strengthens the squad as the Gunners seek to close the gap on Women’s Super League champions Manchester City, having finished four points adrift in second place last season. Rodríguez becomes the fifth major arrival of the transfer window, following the acquisitions of Georgia Stanway from Bayern Munich, Selina Cerci from Hoffenheim, Ona Batlle from Barcelona and Géraldine Reuteler from Eintracht Frankfurt.

“I’m so proud to join this great club,” Rodríguez said. “Arsenal is one of the top clubs in the world and I’m really excited to be part of the team and take on this new challenge. I want to help us compete for trophies and make more history, together with our supporters.”

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in July 1999, Rodríguez developed through the youth ranks at CD Femarguin before joining Atletico Madrid in 2017. She subsequently moved to Deportivo La Coruña ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, where she established herself as one of Spain’s most promising young goalkeepers and helped the club secure a fourth-place finish in their debut top-flight season.

Her performances in Galicia earned a move to Real Madrid, where she spent six seasons and developed into one of the league’s most consistent shot-stoppers. The Zamora Trophy, awarded to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-per-game ratio, came her way on two occasions during her time at the Bernabéu.

Rodríguez’s arrival provides experienced competition between the posts as Arsenal prepare for the new WSL campaign. Her international pedigree and leadership qualities add further depth to a squad being reshaped to challenge for the domestic title.

Kylian Mbappé has etched his name deeper into World Cup history by claiming the 2026 Golden Boot with a record-equalling 10 goals. The France captain becomes the first footballer to win the tournament’s scoring prize on two separate occasions, matching the single-edition tally Gerd Müller set for West Germany in 1970.

Mbappé’s remarkable return places him among the competition’s most prolific marksmen. Only Just Fontaine, who struck 13 times for France in 1958, and Sánder Kocsis, who managed 11 for Hungary in 1954, have scored more in one World Cup.

Record-breaking tournament journey

The Real Madrid forward opened his account with a brace during a 3-1 group-stage victory over Senegal, with his second goal in that fixture making him France’s all-time leading international goalscorer as he surpassed Olivier Giroud. He repeated the feat against Iraq in Philadelphia and again versus Sweden in the round of 32, finishing clinically from difficult angles throughout the knockout phase.

A penalty conversion settled the round-of-16 clash with Paraguay 1-0, while he responded to a saved spot-kick against Morocco by scoring from open play to open the scoring in a 2-0 quarter-final win. He struck twice more in the third-place play-off defeat, ensuring he reached double figures despite France falling short of the final.

Rivals left trailing

Argentina‘s Lionel Messi finished as runner-up in the scoring charts with eight goals, falling short in both the semi-final against England and the final defeat to Spain. England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland shared fourth place on seven goals apiece, with Turkey’s Arda Güler registering once.

While Mbappé collected the Golden Boot, Spain’s Rodri claimed the Golden Ball for the tournament’s outstanding individual performances.

Madrid lineage

Mbappé becomes only the second player to win the Golden Boot while on Real Madrid’s books, following Davor Šuker’s achievement with Croatia in 1998. Ronaldo Nazário and James Rodríguez had previously won the award immediately before joining the Bernabéu outfit that same summer.

France’s failure to reach the final after suffering a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain will temper the personal celebrations, yet 10 goals and a second Golden Boot in three tournaments establishes a standard of World Cup production unmatched in the modern era.

Speaking to the club’s official media on July 16, Alexander-Arnold did not mince words about the rigours of the training ground. “So far, so good. It’s hot and very intense. We’re in pre-season, and that’s what we expected. There are a lot of tough sessions, a lot of double sessions, so it’s been intense so far,” he said.

Admiration for Mourinho’s Standards

The right-back’s arrival at Valdebebas coincides with Mourinho’s return to the Madrid dugout, a move that has dominated the club’s summer narrative. Alexander-Arnold, who previously faced Mourinho-managed sides as an opponent during his time in the Premier League, expressed genuine enthusiasm for the working relationship.

“With Mourinho? Very good, very good. I’ve always admired the coach. I’ve played against him a couple of times and it’s a pleasure to work with him and his team,” he stated. “He’s intense. The principles and the level of expectation are very high, so I’m looking forward to seeing how, the more we get to know each other, the more we learn and the more he can teach us.”

The defender emphasized the squad’s collective mindset, noting they are “willing and eager to learn and improve.” He expressed confidence that Mourinho will provide valuable instruction and guide the team towards silverware in the forthcoming campaign.

Fitness Focus After Lay-off

Beyond tactical adaptation, Alexander-Arnold’s immediate focus appears to be physical. He revealed that he had been sidelined prior to reporting back for duty, making this pre-season block particularly crucial for his preparations.

“Preseason objectives? It’s about getting in shape, understanding the principles and how the coach wants us to play. Understanding how we’re going to set up and present ourselves for this season,” he explained. “And, simply, getting fit and back in action and regaining our rhythm. I’ve been out of action for a long time, so it’s good to finally be back and lay a good foundation for a successful season.”

Alexander-Arnold will hope to establish himself as a central figure in Mourinho’s plans during this critical preparation period. With double sessions continuing at Ciudad Real Madrid, the early signs suggest the defender has embraced the uncompromising standards demanded by his new manager.

Medical Assessment and Recovery Timeline

The Belgium international returned to the Spanish capital immediately after the tournament to undergo assessment at the club’s medical facilities. Results indicated the muscle damage was not severe, allowing Courtois to proceed with a structured treatment plan during his scheduled rest period.

Despite the positive diagnosis, Courtois will not feature in Madrid’s pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in Klagenfurt on August 1st. Club sources indicate this absence is purely precautionary, designed to ensure complete recovery rather than reflecting any ongoing medical concern.

Integration with New Coaching Setup

When the 34-year-old does resume work, he will integrate into a squad that began pre-season training under new manager José Mourinho several weeks ago. The goalkeeper is also scheduled to meet Nuno Santos, who has recently been appointed as the club’s goalkeeping coach.

Contract Talks and Injury History

The fitness clearance arrives alongside concurrent reports that Courtois is set to sign a contract extension with Real Madrid. Having the first-choice goalkeeper confirmed fit for the season opener significantly strengthens the club’s negotiating position during a summer of transition.

Medical staff have confirmed this groin issue is entirely separate from the rectus femoris tear Courtois suffered in March 2026. Unlike previous fitness interruptions that have disrupted recent campaigns, the current prognosis is straightforward, with the player expected to resume full training without complications ahead of the competitive campaign.

Real Madrid’s hierarchy has intervened to retain Antonio Pintus as the club’s physical trainer, overriding José Mourinho’s reported desire to appoint his own specialist to the role. According to reports in the Spanish press, the board made clear that Pintus would remain in post when Mourinho took charge, leaving the Portuguese coach with little say in the matter.

Pintus returned to the Santiago Bernabéu following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal last winter and carries significant institutional weight within the organisation. The decision to keep him represents a firm limit on Mourinho’s authority to reshape his backroom staff as he begins his tenure.

Goalkeeping Compromise

The situation differs for goalkeeper trainer Luis Llopis. Mourinho successfully secured approval to bring in his own appointment for that specific role, though Llopis will not depart entirely. Instead, he is expected to remain at the club in a different capacity, offering a partial compromise between the new manager’s preferences and existing staff retention.

The identity of Mourinho’s chosen goalkeeping coach has not yet been confirmed, leaving that element of the backroom structure unresolved as pre-season approaches.

Integration Challenge Ahead

How Mourinho’s training methods will integrate with Pintus’s established conditioning approach will be a significant subplot during the early weeks of the new regime. The arrangement presents a practical test for the working relationship between the head coach and a physical trainer who enjoys explicit board backing.

These developments stem from Spanish media reports rather than official club communication, meaning the precise negotiation details remain unconfirmed. What appears clear is that Pintus and Mourinho will work alongside each other next season, regardless of whether this represented Mourinho’s initial preference.

The dynamic illustrates the careful balance Real Madrid’s board is attempting to strike: granting Mourinho control over certain aspects of the rebuild while maintaining continuity in key support roles.