Zinedine Zidane has revealed that “he could not believe” an English player omitted the national team with Sven Goran Eriksson in charge during the impressive duo time at Real Madrid.
The French football legend does not hesitate when he is interrogated about the qualities of the former star of England, revealing that he would previously like to play with Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard.
It is a known fact that Zidane told the president of Madrid, Florentino Pérez, to sign the Liverpool icon in 2004, showing a clear desire to form the best center of the world in the world reasonably.
Although fellow world -class teammates were not lacking in the era of whites galacts, the Frenchman revealed that he was amazed by the capabilities of a former English fellow.
While Gerrard's firm initially remained an insoluble task for Madrid, they completed Steve Mcmanaman's free transfer in the summer of 1999.
Although he made 37 appearances for England, the former Liverpool star stopped receiving calls in 2001, which surprised Zidane.
Zinedine Zidane 'could not believe' Steve Mcmanaman was rejected by England in 2002
The French football legend warned that the team would regret losing the potential of the former Red Star.
Zidane has been an admirer for a long time of the former star of England, such as Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and
'I was surprised when Mcmanaman was out of England's last team. I couldn't believe that they ignored a player of his quality, '' said the Frenchman in a Sky Sports Interview in 2002.
'Now people talk about the fact that they may have their opportunity because David Beckham is injured.
'But Mcmanaman is much better than just being a replacement for Beckham. Mcmanaman should be in the initial alignment anyway.
The English was out of the team despite a good performance in several unusual positions in the capital of Spain, but the correct wink was considered its most comfortable role.
He remained remembered as one of the most successful England stars he had played abroad despite the fierce competition in the Madrid team.
“Choosing it now would be a very intelligent movement for Eriksson because Mcmanaman is in humor to begin to show that people are wrong,” Zidane continued.
'If Eriksson would give him the opportunity he deserves, he could show all the people and Eriksson, he should have been there all the time.
'I don't think he had an adequate opportunity under Eriksson, but has demonstrated over the years, for Liverpool, England and Real Madrid, who is a leading player.
McManaman's game against Greece in October 2001 is still the last one for England
However, he had a much more successful club race, winning two Champions League for Madrid
It is understood that Sven Goran Eriksson sent the confirmation of McManaman's Desaite about a telephone message
'If England does not choose it, it would be a terrible waste, both for the team and for Mcmanaman. If they do not take it to the World Cup, they will regret it.
Mcmanaman had a much more successful race at club levels, also starring Liverpool and Manchester City with Madrid.
However, he won seven main trophies in the capital of Spain, including two titles of the Champions League in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
He thought about the initial alignment against Valencia and played the entire 90-minute game, scoring his appearance with the second goal of the Whites in a match that concluded with a humiliation of 3-0 in Stade de France.
In 2002, under the same manager Vicente del Bosque, the former Premier League player began the clash in the bank, but went up to the field in the 61st minute, replacing Luis Figo.
But the game against Greece in October 2001 remained the last one for England.
After Sven-Goran Eriksson left him out of the team for a message, Mcmanaman hastened to share his views with BBC 5 Live.
“Many of the reasons why they are ridiculous are ridiculous,” he said. 'I was involved in the last classification game against Greece and everyone was happy. People make their own assumptions, but it is very confusing.
“When it was announced that I was not chosen I was not crossed, since half expected it.”