Deschamps confirms receiving Real Madrid offers before leaving France role

Didier Deschamps confirmed receiving offers from Real Madrid, revealing in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca that he had featured on the Madrid club’s candidate lists. The statement comes five days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, with France facing Senegal in their opening match.

“Did I receive offers? Yes, obviously,” said the manager, who will step down after fourteen years leading the Blues following the tournament. He refused to elaborate on details, however, recalling that his name had circulated multiple times for the Madrid bench — including as far back as his departure from Juventus in 2007. “My son used to joke about it with me, because it happened for two years. The problem is I always ended up on those lists.”

His name has also been linked with the Italian national team, which is seeking a new manager. But Deschamps shut down any comment on his immediate future. “That doesn’t interest me right now. What matters is today and tomorrow. Tomorrow is the World Cup. I’ve always considered myself at the service of the French national team.”

On managing transfer matters within the squad, the Basque coach remained pragmatic. He recalled that the latest players to join the camp — the Paris players and William Saliba — received clear instructions upon arrival: anything concerning their clubs belongs to the past. “As soon as they arrived, it was over, full stop. Now we have a common objective: the national team.”

Deschamps acknowledged, however, that certain contract situations could unsettle players during competition, citing the example of Antoine Griezmann, who was forced to sign a contract during a tournament. “I’m not going to oppose the players, these are their professional decisions. If it can be sorted earlier, that’s ideal.”