Florentino Perez wants Zidane back at Real Madrid LaLiga Santander Frenchman is the No.1 option

Zinedine Zidane is the man Florentino Perez wants on the Real Madrid bench. A tragic week for the club has seen them out of the running in every competition and the Frenchman is seen as the man to come in and get things back on track.

Santiago Solari has already been sentenced and he won't occupy the job next season as confidence in his ability has completely disappeared.

The idea to approach Zidane came to Florentino immediately after the Champions League elimination against Ajax.

Zidane's departure didn't end his relationship with the club's hierarchy, having spent time there as a player and a coach and he is still highly respected there. While Perez was unable to convince Zidane to change his mind in the summer, the sensitivity of the current situation has Madrid believing their former boss would be open to a return.

A clean dressing room

"The circumstances for a possible return have changed, don't dismiss it," said an authoritative voice to MARCA last week, speaking bluntly of Solari and Zidane's situation.

Those circumstances are the dressing room and he will have a different squad to work with. Cristiano Ronaldo has already left, while Gareth Bale and Isco could follow imminently, and Zidane has to decide what he wants to do.

It's worth remembering the personal side of the man and that this is a city that embraced him in 2001, one wherein he has had a family and has still not left, with Luca and Enzo still playing in the area.

Zidane has continued his life in Madrid as he did before, just without the stress of the job.

With the strength to continue

It's an understatement to say that Madrid are in a tough moment, but they are willing to forget about this season and acknowledge that not every decision taken has been a bad one.

There will be time to reflect before the signings arrive and there will be a new coach, hopefully Zidane, in place.

The list of alternatives has reduced. Jose Mourinho's name has been discarded for now, despite his interest.

Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino remain high on the list, but their contract situations complicate things, as does Massimiliano Allegri's current arrangement at Juventus.