REAL MADRID could show two of their players the door following the departure of Zinedine Zidane, Spanish football expert Rik Sharma claim...
REAL MADRID could show two of their players the door following the departure of Zinedine Zidane, Spanish football expert Rik Sharma claims.
Zidane called a press conference at short notice on Thursday to announce he was leaving the Bernabeu.
And now Sharma, speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, believes Karim Benzema and Marcelo could follow him when the new manager is brought in.
Asked who may now be on their way, Sharma said: "I think Karim Benzema because at times this season everyone has turned their guns on him.
"Zidane has almost been like a human shield, defending him every single week.
"Benzema scored five goals this season in 30 games. When you consider he's playing in a team that create so many chances like Real Madrid, that's absolutely horrendous.
"Zidane makes the point that Benzema being on the pitch makes everyone else play better.
"That may be true as his link-up play is amazing and he's really good on the ball, he's very intelligent and his movement is great.
"But I don't think it will be a surprise if Benzema goes, maybe to the Premier League. Or he may be that kind of character who says 'I've won everything at club level, I'm just going to go to China or the US'.
"If they get a new coach, especially Mauricio Pochettino who likes younger teams, they you may look at a player like Marcelo and say 'you're sensational going forward but you are an absolutely terrible defender'.
"Real Madrid concede goals so often down that flank but so often when they score goals it's down to him helping in attack."
Zidane called a press conference at short notice on Thursday to announce he was leaving the Bernabeu.
And now Sharma, speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, believes Karim Benzema and Marcelo could follow him when the new manager is brought in.
Asked who may now be on their way, Sharma said: "I think Karim Benzema because at times this season everyone has turned their guns on him.
"Zidane has almost been like a human shield, defending him every single week.
"Benzema scored five goals this season in 30 games. When you consider he's playing in a team that create so many chances like Real Madrid, that's absolutely horrendous.
"Zidane makes the point that Benzema being on the pitch makes everyone else play better.
"That may be true as his link-up play is amazing and he's really good on the ball, he's very intelligent and his movement is great.
"But I don't think it will be a surprise if Benzema goes, maybe to the Premier League. Or he may be that kind of character who says 'I've won everything at club level, I'm just going to go to China or the US'.
"If they get a new coach, especially Mauricio Pochettino who likes younger teams, they you may look at a player like Marcelo and say 'you're sensational going forward but you are an absolutely terrible defender'.
"Real Madrid concede goals so often down that flank but so often when they score goals it's down to him helping in attack."
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