Zinedine Zidane faced the media on the eve of Real Madrid’s LaLiga Santander clash with Elche.
The Frenchman was asked about the possible return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid amid recent rumours.
“Well, you know what Cristiano [Ronaldo] means to Madrid, what he has done, the affection we all have for him and what he has done here is magnificent,” he said.
“But now he is a Juventus player and he is doing very well there. I can’t tell you anything, many things are said but you have to respect these things.”
Whilst there has yet to be concrete progress made with regards to Sergio Ramos’ contract extension with Los Blancos, Zidane believes that the central defender could well play at the top-level way into his forties.
“That is already a good intention, and he has said it,” he added.
“Every year he will see how he is feeling and he stays like he is now, then he can play until he is 40.
“The most important thing is how he feels.”
Raphael Varane is another potential headache for Los Merengues heading into the summer transfer window, with the former Lens prodigy having not yet agreed to a contract renewal on a deal that is set to expire in June 2022.
In an ideal world, Varane and Real Madrid will come to an agreement, although whether or not the club will allow him to potentially leave on a free is unclear, though the French believes the defender is simply focused on football.
“I don’t think he is thinking about leaving,” he explained.
“He has always said this, he is very happy here.
“I see him [staying] here.”
Supporters have been left concerned at how Eden Hazard keeps picking up injuries, and there are clear concerns amongst the club’s fan-base that the Belgian may develop a mental problem with regards to his fitness like they perceive Gareth Bale did in his latter years in Madrid.
However, Zidane continues to believe in the former Chelsea forward, and is desperate to have him back in the squad and available to be selected.
“He has had a long injury that he’s never had before, so it’s natural he will feel some discomfort,” he declared.
“He has a long contract with us and when he gets fit, he will play like a mother-fucker.
“I’m very positive and I’d like to speak to our fans and say that when you aren’t 100 percent things feel very complicated, but Hazard will do very well here.”
