It Is Important For Ronaldo To Be On The Pitch – Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has said he is “annoyed” by reports he won a mini battle with his club to stop the club signing Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this month.

Zidane has insisted he did not want reinforcements midseason, and Kepa has instead agreed a new contract at Athletic, which runs until 2025 and includes an €80 million clause.

“In June any player can come to Madrid, if the club’s strategy is to change something, along with the coach.

“But my idea, and that of the club too as we are all together here, was to not change many things. I get annoyed when I hear comments saying I have won [an internal battle]. The important thing for me is to protect my squad, the players here are those who concern me. But I have nothing against Kepa, or any other player.”

Zidane was also asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction to the facial injury sustained in last weekend’s 7-1 win over Deportivo la Coruna.

Ronaldo used a doctor’s cell phone to examine the problem and Zidane said: “Cristiano wanted to know whether the cut was very deep or not.

“I am saying exactly what he told us in the dressing room. The doctors stitched it up and today he was back.

If he is training with us, with his eye like this [swollen] it shows how important it is for him to be on the pitch.”

With Madrid 1-0 up from last week’s first leg, Ronaldo is likely to be rested for the return against Leganes, but club captain Sergio Ramos is set to be involved for the first time in 2018 having recovered from a calf muscle problem.

“Sergio will be with us tomorrow,” Zidane said. “Then we will see how we do it, but he will be there.”