Zinedine Zidane refused to be drawn into discussions over James
Rodriguez's future at Real Madrid, insisting he and the squad are
interested only in Wednesday's crucial La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.
Reports this week have suggested James is set for a big-money close-season move to Manchester United after falling down the pecking order at Santiago Bernabeu.
The attacking midfielder moved to Madrid after a stellar 2014 World Cup that saw him win the Golden Boot award, but has found playing time limited since Zidane took over in January 2016.
Reports this week have suggested James is set for a big-money close-season move to Manchester United after falling down the pecking order at Santiago Bernabeu.
The attacking midfielder moved to Madrid after a stellar 2014 World Cup that saw him win the Golden Boot award, but has found playing time limited since Zidane took over in January 2016.
But Zidane was keeping his cards firmly to his chest when asked about James' future at a pre-match news conference.
"James is here, that's not up for question. He's with us," he said.
"He didn't train [on Tuesday] because he has a knock, but James is here and we're thinking just about the three games we have left this year."
Another player whose future in the Spanish capital is believed to be up in the air is Spain striker Alvaro Morata, who has spent much of the campaign playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema.
Morata was pictured seemingly snubbing a handshake from Zidane when substituted in Sunday's 4-1 rout of Sevilla.
But Zidane, whose side need four points from their remaining two matches to win LaLiga, insists he was not the cause of the striker's irritation.
"Morata wasn't angry with me, he was angry at something else," he added. "I don't know what but it can happen, it's fine. We spoke and that's it."
"James is here, that's not up for question. He's with us," he said. "He didn't train [on Tuesday] because he has a knock, but James is here and we're thinking just about the three games we have left this year."
Another player whose future in the Spanish capital is believed to be up in the air is Spain striker Alvaro Morata, who has spent much of the campaign playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema.
Morata was pictured seemingly snubbing a handshake from Zidane when substituted in Sunday's 4-1 rout of Sevilla.
But Zidane, whose side need four points from their remaining two matches to win LaLiga, insists he was not the cause of the striker's irritation.
"Morata wasn't angry with me, he was angry at something else," he added. "I don't know what but it can happen, it's fine. We spoke and that's it."
Comments
Post a Comment