So, our lovely Frenchman is back in Europe! He was spotted in Rodez, Veronique's hometown, several times since yesterday evening. 
He gave some autographs and was very nice. Sadly I don't have more information, but tomorrow the magazine Midi Libre is set to publish more information. I have no idea if we'll have access to this information though. 

Here's the original French article: 


Édition du jeudi 16 juillet 2009 

RODEZ - Zizou en touriste
Si vous cherchez Zizou, il est actuellement en balade dans le département de l'Aveyron, où résident notamment les parents de son épouse Véronique. Mercredi soir et jeudi matin, Zinedine Zidane a ainsi été aperçu à maintes reprises dans Rodez. Entre quelques autographes et de nombreux sourires complices, il a quand même pu déambuler tranquillement dans la cité ruthénoise qui prend petit à petit de vrais airs de vacances.

Plus d'informations demain dans votre édition locale de Midi Libre.


source: www.midilibre.com/articles/2009/07/16/RODEZ-Rodez-Zizou-en-touriste-847999.php5

The information about his visit to Rodez might contradict with this news: (but it doesn't have to, since Munich isn't exactly in New Zealand)

Zidane flying to Munich for Real Madrid Ribery talks
16.07.09 | tribalfootball.com

Real Madrid are making a new push to convince Bayern Munich to sell Franck Ribery.

Marca says Ribery's agent, Alain Miglaccio, was travelling to Munich yesterday to open new talks with Bayern in an attempt to convince them to do business with Real. There's also talk that Zinedine Zidane will fly to Germany from the USA to help with negotiations. 

The situation at Bayern is becoming increasingly difficult for Ribery, who is now being criticised by local media and fans over his ambitions to quit the club for Real.

source: www.tribalfootball.com/zidane-flying-munich-real-madrid-ribery-talks-257301

And also a random tidbit from a blog:
Zizou is listed here as part of the La Liga team of decade. 
www.laligatalk.com/la-liga-team-of-the-decade/1447/comment-page-1/
I guess we all agree on this quote: "The most elegant man ever to caress a football with his feet."

_________________________________

That's it! :) 

A Few Words With Zinedine Zidane 
By Nick Green on July 15, 2009 12:19 AM

There are some times when you can't help reverting from journalist to fan.

Meeting and talking to Pele at the opening of Home Depot Center in 2003 courtesy of AEG was one of them; interviewing Zinedine Zidane Saturday in El Segundo via a French language interpreter thanks to adidas was another.

Here's our (brief) interview.

Question: Is it conceivable you could come out of retirement and play for Major League Soccer?
Answer: As of today I would say no. It's true I've had offers since I retired from my career three years ago. And I can assure you I've been tempted by the offers. I took the decision not to return. And maybe in 10 years I might regret it.

Q: What did you think of the U.S. upset of Spain at the Confederations Cup?
A: The U.S. played very well. Spain was maybe a little off. It proves the soccer in the United States is coming to another level.

Q: Do you think there is prejudice against American players in Europe?
A: Yes, I do. I would say here in the United States the game isn't exactly up to par - that it's still a little behind. But things can change in the future. I think there are talented players in the United States. (And here I think the translation completely broke down, but to paraphrase I believe he said "that will change when U.S. National Team players also play for the best European clubs and that was the case when France won the World Cup in 1998). We had all the best players; they were all belonging to the best European teams.

Q: What American player has most impressed you?
A: He's the one who represents soccer in the U.S. - (Landon) Donovan. In fact, he played abroad in Germany, no? I knew him a little bit when he was playing over there.


source: www.insidesocal.com/soccer/2009/07/a-few-words-with-zinedene-zida.html


Also the French tabloid Voici reports that there was visible tension between the Zidanes and the Beckhams during the Chivas vs Galaxy match. 




Apparently Zizou and Becks only politely said hello to each other at the beginning of the match and then didn't talk to each other anymore. Victoria was very interested in her Diet Coke and her kids and didn't care about the others. Vero on the other hand was so concentrated in watching the match that you could believe Zizou was on the pitch. *haha* Doesn't really sound good. But the pictures we've seen didn't really show  a happy reunion party. 

source: www.voici.fr/potins-people/les-photos-star/photos-tensions-entre-les-zidane-et-les-beckham-305237
 

MILAN — AC Milan teammates Gianluca Zambrotta and Marco Borriello believe Ronaldinho is the man to fill the creative role vacated by Kaka, who left Italy for Real Madrid.

Ronaldinho, a former Barcelona midfielder, failed to shine in his first year at Milan, despite scoring the winning goal in the Milan derby early in the season. The Brazilian eventually finished the season with eight goals in 17 appearances.

Ronaldinho was left out of Brazil's squad for the Confederations Cup, a clear indication that coach Dunga feels he needs to improve.

"I expect a lot from him and hope he can repeat that great start he had last season," Borriello told the club's website Tuesday. "I think that with Kaka's departure he will be a little bit more liberated mentally and I'm certain that this season we will rediscover a great Ronaldinho who will give us a step up in quality."

Zambrotta said Zinedine Zidane was the best teammate he ever had, but Ronaldinho was second.

"Last year was a new year for him, but I think and hope that this year he can make the difference and start the season fired up," Zambrotta said. "Among all my teammates in my career Zidane is the best, then Ronaldinho and after that Kaka."

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

source: www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iglUjbVkQ26zzv2VjFWnTVCicJ6g

Here are the links to a video and a photo gallery of the LA-Adidas-Event.
I hope that the links work and you enjoy it.

http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?iid=5352689&term=david,beckham,zidane&ContributorId=4572&CategoryId=4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts3-X0LF2aA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpromipranger%2Ejoinr%2Ede%2F21964%2Ddavid%2Dbeckham%2Dund%2Dzinedine%2Dzidane%2Dmachens%2Dgemeinsam&feature=player_embedded

He says that the term "galacticos" should not be used because its negative. He says there are many great players such as Messi and Cronaldo but for him, the best one is Ribery - and not just because he is French.

( click here to see the rest )

Believe it or not!
After an injury, slow ticket sales and 201 excuses from Adlani, our Zizou stopped on a field in Vancouver and entertained about 5000 people. Yeah, you didn't imagine the number...

And an article (the only one so far *sigh*)

ZINEDINE ZIDANE ENDS CANADA TOUR WITH CHARITY GAME IN VANCOUVER

BURNABY, B.C. -- Organizational problems and a freak injury have plagued French soccer star Zinedine Zidane's promotional Canadian tour, but the former World Cup hero still managed to put on a show for a small but energetic crowd Sunday night.

Zidane scored three goals and set up two others while playing one half for each makeshift side as the Reds beat the Blues 10-7 before a crowd of about 4,000 on an overcast but warm night.

The game was played at Swangard Stadium, the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps' men's and women's pro teams that seats approximately 5,200.

Zidane was originally supposed to play alongside other current and former international stars against the Vancouver All-Stars, a local select side. But none of the other international stars showed, so Zidane played a half with each team.

( click here to read the rest )

source: http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=284612</b>

Some creative person on YouTube also thought Beckham sounds eerily like the Geico gecko and put Beckham's voice to a video of the gecko!!! it's brilliant and uncanny!!!