Zinedine Zidane has made his feelings clear on Real Madrid return amid rumours he could replace Carlo Ancelotti

Zinedine Zidane has already made his feelings clear on a potential return to management amid suggestions he could replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Zidane, 52, has been without a role since stepping down as Real Madrid head coach in 2021.

It was his second spell in charge of the Spanish giants, who he also famously played for during his professional career.

Over the course of his two separate spells in charge of the team, Zidane won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in three consecutive seasons between 2015/16 and 2017/18.

While he has been linked with several top managerial roles in recent years, including with the French national team and Manchester United, Zidane has chosen to stay away from football.

But that could be set to change soon.

The legendary midfielder was spotted at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night for Real Madrid's 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.

That result has increased the pressure on Ancelotti, with Madrid already nine points adrift of Barcelona in La Liga and currently 17^th in the Champions League table.

That has in turn led to suggestions Ancelotti, 65, could be sacked, with Spanish outlet Relevo reporting that his job is now under 'under threat'.

Those reports combined with Zidane's attendance at the match has naturally led to speculation the Frenchman could return as head coach.

Zidane has previously spoken of his desire to return to management in the future, but only at a club where he believes he can win.

Speaking to L'Equipe in 2022, Zidane said: "When I was a player, I could choose almost every club. As a coach, there aren't 50 clubs I can go to. There are two or three possibilities.

"If I go back to a club, it's to win. I say this in all modesty. That's why I can't go anywhere."

He added: "For other reasons, too, I might not be able to go everywhere. Which ones? The language, for example. Certain conditions make things more difficult.

"When people say to me: 'Do you want to go to Manchester [United]?' I understand English but I don't fully master it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently.

Zinedine Zidane is being linked with a return to Real Madrid (Image: Getty)

"To win, many elements come into play. It's a global context. Me, I know what I need to win."

Meanwhile, earlier this year he hinted at a return to management while speaking on a documentary about Italian football great Marcello Lippi.

"Why not? Anything can happen, but at the moment I'm doing something else. I am sure that I will return to the bench, I would like to coach again," he said, as reported by Diario AS.

Ancelotti will be desperate to avoid the sack so early in the season but will need results to change quickly if he is to save his job.

Real Madrid next face Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, with their next Champions League game coming against in-form Liverpool on November 27.