ZINEDINE ZIDANE has left Real Madrid because he feels he does not have the dressing room 100 per cent behind him, it has been claimed. ...
ZINEDINE ZIDANE has left Real Madrid because he feels he does not have the dressing room 100 per cent behind him, it has been claimed.
According to Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, there are issues in the Real Madrid camp that Zidane now no longer wants to deal with.
Moments after Zidane shocked the world by announcing he is leaving, just days after his third Champions League win, Balague revealed: “He feels the players are not listening to him, he’s not that important. It feels like that’s what he’s trying to say.
“He feels someone else has to come in and deal with it. He feels the dynamics have changed to a point.
“He’s taken the team to nine out of 13 titles - what else does he have to do at Real Madrid?
“It’s not so much they cannot be managed, to just manage the situations that are coming up, like Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, he does not want it.
“The players were told in a message today. He’s only spoken to Sergio Ramos and intends to speak to other captains in the next few hours.
“He felt he had talk to one of the leaders in the club and that was Sergio Ramos.”
Zidane is leaving the European champions after winning an unprecedented third straight Champions League title, he told a news conference at midday.
"I think it's the moment, both for me, the team and the club (to step down). It's a strange moment to do so, I know, but an important one too. I had to do this for everyone," he said.
"This side should carry on winning and needs a change for this. After three years it needs another voice, another method of work, for this I took this decision."
Zidane became the first coach to win a third straight European Cup when Real beat Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday, capping a remarkable period in his first job in senior club management.
"I love this club a lot, the president, who gave me everything - to play first at this great club. I'll always be thankful. Today I need to change, for me, for everyone, for this I've taken the decision," Zidane added.
Balague now thinks Zidane could be in line to become the next manager of France.
He added: “I don’t think he will retire as a manager. He has the idea of being national team coach of France and I’m sure that will happen.
“If things don’t work in a direction he wants, he senses that he’s not tired of a manager. He senses players need something new, a new voice.
“They have won a lot, someone else has to lead them now.”
The Frenchman took over a divided dressing room after the sacking of Rafael Benitez in January, 2016 and immediately set about uniting the squad.
He claimed the first of his hat-trick of European triumphs two years ago when Real defeated local rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in the final. A year later he led Real to their first European Cup and La Liga double in 59 years.
Real finished three points ahead of Barcelona as they won their first league title since 2012 before crushing Juventus 4-1 in the Champions League final to become the first side to win the competition in its current format in back-to-back seasons.
Zidane won nine major honours as Real coach and the 45-year-old's crowning glory came last Saturday as he joined an elite group of managers including Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti by lifting the European Cup for the third time as coach.
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