Marco Materazzi reveals he’s FINALLY ready to bury the hatchet with Zinedine Zidane – and is ‘no longer looking for an apology’ 18 years after infamous World Cup final headbutt

Marco Materazzi has revealed he is finally ready to bury the hatchet with Zinedine Zidane after the France legend infamously headbutted him in the 2006 World Cup final.

Zidane was dramatically shown a red card in the final game of his career after clashing heads with the former Italy star, whose side went on to lift the trophy.

Materazzi, who claimed back in April that he has not spoken with Zidane since the explosive incident, has now revealed he would be open to a conversation with the former Real Madrid and Juventus star and would not demand an apology.

Speaking to Lucky Block, the Italian said: ‘I haven’t spoken to Zinedine Zidane since that day, I had never spoken to him before and have not spoken to him after. 

‘We don’t have a relationship. He is a legend of the game and I have a lot of respect for him as a player and a manager, winning three Champions Leagues in a row.

‘I’m no longer looking for an apology but would happily have a conversation with him now that so many years have passed. There would be no problem.’

Materazzi (above) has revealed he is finally ready to bury the hatchet with the France legend

After Zidane was given his marching orders, Italy went on to win the World Cup in the final

Materazzi has previously explained how Zidane’s headbutt was an act of retaliation after he made a remark about the Frenchman’s sister.

Insisting he does not want his legacy defined by the infamous moment, the defender previously told The Times: ‘I don’t like it, because it doesn’t do justice to what my career was.

‘That episode should never have happened. In the tension of that final in Berlin, amidst the bickering and insults, Zidane offered me his shirt, and I said no, that I preferred his sister. 

‘Then he turned around and reacted as everyone remembers. I never saw Zinedine again.’ 

In 2022, Zidane admitted he is ‘not proud’ of how his playing career come to a disastrous end.

The former Real Madrid manager told French outlet Telefoot: ‘I’m not at all proud of what I did, but it’s part of my past.’

Zidane, considered by many as one of football’s all-time greats, began his career at Cannes before switching to Bordeaux in 1992.

He then signed for Juventus in 1996 and established himself as a generational midfielder capable of excelling at all parts of the game, chalking up over 150 appearances and winning two league titles with the Italian giants.

Zidane retaliated furiously after Materazzi made a comment about the Frenchman’s sister

Zidane won France the World Cup in 1998 but bowed out of the game in tragic circumstances

Five years later, Zidane signed Real Madrid for a world record fee 77.5million euros (£64m) and stayed there until his retirement in 2006, adding a LaLiga and Champions League trophy to his impressive portfolio of honours.

Arguably, Zidane’s greatest achievement as a player was guiding France to World Cup glory in 1998, triumphing on home soil to claim the Ballon d’Or that year. 

Since his two separate trophy-laden spells as Real Madrid boss in 2016-2018 and 2019-2021, the 52-year-old has yet to return to management despite being heavily linked with various top jobs across Europe, including Man United and Juventus.