Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has no intentions of selling Isco or any other “crucial” member of his squad as he remains focused on securing a positive end to the season.
With Los Blancos some 19 points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona following last weekend’s 2-2 draw at relegation battlers Levante, there have been reports Zidane is preparing for a summer shake-up at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It has been suggested that will include offloading the likes of midfielder Isco to make way for fresh talent such as Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski.
Zidane, though, has rejected any such proposals exist – and stressed he wanted Spaniard Isco to remain at the club for the long term.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga match against Real Sociedad, the Real Madrid coach said: “I want him (Isco) to spend his entire career here and that won’t change.
“He’s a superb player and he’s shown that, it’s not true we want to sell him. Every member of this squad is crucial.
“We have so many games and I’ll have to call on all of them. I’m the one with the difficult job of picking the team.”
Isco remains a crucial player to Real Madrid, says head coach Zinedine Zidane (John Walton/EMPICS Sport)
While Real’s hopes of defending their LaLiga crown are all but over and they have also failed to progress in the Copa del Rey, Zidane sees no reason to be negative ahead of next week’s first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against Paris St Germain.
“Sometimes things don’t go as we’d like them to but we know who we are and during tough spells we have to keep going, working hard and thinking positively,” Zidane said, as quoted on the club’s official website.
“We know the weapons we possess and everything can change very quickly.”
Zidane added: “We want to put in a good performance and it won’t be an easy match against tough opposition.
“We want to pick up points in LaLiga and close the gap on the leaders, without letting our minds drift to Wednesday’s game.
“We believe we can do great things and that’s all I care about.”
Zidane sees no reason to fear their upcoming European showdown against the French giants.
“We’re going to give it our all. Nobody knows what will happen on Wednesday, but we want to see a good performance,” he said.
“We know it’ll be tough but we’re not worried. These are the kinds of games players love to be involved in.”
Real Sociedad ended a four match losing streak when they thumped strugglers Deportivo La Coruna 5-0.
“We want to build on the feelings of last weekend,” coach Eusebio Sacristan said at a press conference, quoted by Spanish media outlet www.sport.es.
“We have the immediate chance to do that on a stage like the Bernabeu against a team with great players. Now, we have to be able to take advantage of the moment.”
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