Zidane hopes to see Bordeaux « return to the top » after their relegation to Regional 1

Zinédine Zidane spoke on Saturday in Bordeaux to express his support for Girondins, his former club, administratively relegated from National 1 to Régional 1 after narrowly avoiding judicial liquidation.

The France manager said he was « not happy » with the situation, which he judges « terrible ». « As someone who was a player at this club, I can tell you that I am sad. I hope that with the new owners, the club will find its way and progress little by little to return to the top », he declared on the eve of the decisive clash for the Blues against Turkey at Stade Atlantique, in the Nations League group stage.

Zidane has a particular history with FCGB: discovered at Cannes, he wore the Bordeaux colours for four years, from 1992 to 1996, before a sensational transfer to Juventus. Those years notably earned him a UEFA Cup final, lost to Bayern Munich, and constitute a formative step in the trajectory of the future 1998 Ballon d’Or winner.

The Girondins, saved at the last moment from judicial liquidation in recent weeks, did not escape sporting sanctions: the club is now in the sixth division, two levels below their status last season. A vertiginous fall for one of the most decorated clubs in French football history.

Zidane’s remarks come in a delicate context for the Blues themselves, who approach this match against Turkey on the back of a 3-1 defeat conceded in Italy, Thursday in Milan. Qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals is decided on Sunday at Stade Atlantique.