Zinedine Zidane’s comments after his resignation proves he saw the downfall at Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane announced that he would be parting ways with Real Madrid after the Champions League triumph in May. It is understood that the Los Blancos will be open to listening offers for their record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window.
The Portuguese International’s departure to Juventus coupled with the power of handling transfers had infuriated the former Real Madrid manager who decided to call it quits after losing his battle with Florentino Perez. The French International visualized poor planning of the club and decided to opt out of the job.
Julen Lopetegui was sacked as Spain national team just two days before the kick off the World Cup. He was appointed as Real Madrid’s new manager and made his intentions clear that he would require a top-notch centre-forward. But, Florentino Perez activated the buyback clause for Mariano Diaz to lure him back to Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Spain boss had a bright start to his Real Madrid career, but he was shown the exit door following a 5-1 defeat to Barcelona in the La Liga. Many big faces were linked with the reigning European Champions, but Santiago Solari was promoted as the first team manager in a two-and-a-half year contract.
It took time for the Argentine International to get adjusted to the players, but Solari looks certain to lose his job after Barcelona’s double and humiliation to Ajax in the Champions Round of 16, eventually breaking out of the competition.
Zinedine Zidane, who managed Real Madrid after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in 2015 was able to foresee the slump of the club. His interview after the resignation makes so much sense right now.
“It would have been difficult for me to win again next year,” he said to ESPN. “There have been good moments, but also difficult times.
“I do not forget that. And at this club, you must know this: I do not want to start a season and have a bad time.
“I want to end with Real Madrid when everything is going well. I did it as a player, and now again as a coach. This [is] the right moment to end things well.”
Dutch legend Ruud Gullit said that Zidane left at the right time, mainly for how Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Juventus last summer.
“Zidane was clever enough to get out of there on time when they lost Ronaldo,” he said on beIN Sports. “That’s the whole point. And whoever comes after that has a difficult task.
“You have no Ronaldo. That’s 50 goals you don’t have.”
The former AC Milan star also touched on Madrid’s exit from the Champions League, saying that he wasn’t surprised that Santiago Solari’s men were knocked out of the competition.
“It was not a surprise,” he said, before adding: “Because seeing Madrid lately, seeing the first match they [Ajax] played at home — and they didn’t deserve to lose — I saw opportunities, especially in Madrid.
“Then you see the game Barcelona at Madrid, played [Real] off the park as well. You see the midfield and you think to yourself, ‘Oh my God. That is exactly the team they want to face!’
“And the worst part is this has been the easiest game of the season. That is even worse. Against Madrid! Not even in their home competition do they have easy games like this.”
The Spanish publication AS reported that Zinedine Zidane has been contacted by Florentino Perez to take charge of Real Madrid again, but the reports say that the Frenchman has decided to turn that opportunity down.
Real Madrid will take on Real Valladolid in the La Liga as they prepare to finish above their arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in the league table.
