French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has apologised for his comments slamming Zinedine Zidane after strong criticism from Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe, among others.
Reports in recent months suggested that the former Real Madrid manager had set his sights on replacing Didier Deschamps at the helm of the French national team after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Read: Zidane 'rejects' offer to coach international side
It was believed at the time that Deschamps would leave the role after the showpiece in Qatar, when his contract was set to expire.
However, it was announced on Saturday that the 2018 World Cup-winning manager would be staying on in the job for another three years.
This has led to suggestions that the European nation had decided against hiring three-time UEFA Champions League-winning boss Zidane in favour of keeping Deschamps on board.
As such, Le Graet was recently asked about Zidane being approached to take charge of Brazil, and his answer seemed to hint at some bad blood between himself and the tactician.
"Zidane to Brazil?" the federation chief answered, per Get Football France.
"I don't give a toss. He can go wherever he wants, to a club or to a national team.
"I don't really care about it. Did he try to ring me? Definitely not.
"I wouldn't have even picked up the phone for him."
These comments were later criticised by Paris Saint-Germain and Les Bleus superstar Kylian Mbappe, who took to Twitter to make it clear he found them to be a sign of disrespect to the France legend, while Real Madrid also released a statement expressing their displeasure with the chief's comments on their former player and manager, saying "these remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world and our club is awaiting an immediate correction".
France's minister for sports Amelie Oudea-Castera was also reported to have contacted the federation president and told him to apologise for his remarks, something Le Graet his now said to have done.
According to RMC Sport via AFP, he said: "My clumsy comments have created a misunderstanding.
"I want to give my apologies for those comments that absolutely don't reflect my thoughts, nor my consideration for the player that he was and the manager he has become."
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Zidane won the World Cup with France in 1998 and reached the final in 2006, during which he infamously received a red card for head-butting Marco Materazzi in extra-time.
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