Former Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane is set for a more hands-on role at the La Liga giants and could be on the bench alongside manager Jose Mourinho next week.

Spanish daily Marca claims that Zidane met with Real president Florentino Perez and general manager Jorge Valdano to finalise his much-discussed role and could be in the dugout for the Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, Mourinho told French TV channel TF1: "Zidane should be close to the pitch and less in the directors' offices. I would like to see him more with me and less with Florentino."

Zidane, who joined Real in 2001 for a then-world record fee of €75 million and retired after the World Cup in 2006, responded by heaping praise on the Portuguese coach.

"Speaking with Mourinho, one realises that he knows perfectly where he is going and how he is going to get there," the frenchman told Direct Soir. "I do not have the slightest doubt: Real Madrid needed someone like him.

"Everybody says that he is a very kind man. I would have loved him to have trained me at some point in my career."

Marca claimed the 38-year-old would act as Mourinho's "right-hand man" from the dugout. Zidane said: "I will be the avenue between the first team and the president. I would like to participate more in the life of the club."

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Not really sure how big of a deal it is, but it's always nice to see Zidane invovled.

Picking up experience for an eventual coaching role.

Great players don't make great managers only a few have managed to pull it off...

Sounds great and all but he's French.

speaks Spanish fluently ,loves Spain . thats all one needs . what about Barcas Dutch connection?