Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane does not believe Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the 12-time European champions is a matter for debate.
Zinedine Zidane has moved to draw a line under speculation Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid.
The four-time Ballon d’Or winner inspired Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory last season, but reportedly wanted out in June after Spanish prosecutors accused him of tax fraud amounting to €14.7-million.
Ronaldo denied the allegations via a statement from his management company Gestifute, although his relationship with the Santiago Bernabeu fanbase – he has been singled out for boos on numerous occasions during home matches – could also be viewed as strained.
The 32-year-old is yet to join Madrid on their International Champions Cup pre-season campaign in the United States, as he rests up following Portugal’s third-place finish at the Confederations Cup.
✈️👌🔝 #nike #CR7live pic.twitter.com/FkWJSzrfvl
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 20, 2017
However, when Ronaldo returns, Zidane expects it to be business as usual.
‘He is on vacation. He is resting and deserves it,’ Zidane told ESPN.
‘We will wait and when the vacation ends, he will return with us and that’s it.
‘Talk to Cristiano? No, because in the end Cristiano is at Madrid and is going to stay with us and that’s it.’
Madrid will face Manchester City, Manchester United and Clasico rivals Barcelona during their time in the US.
La Liga’s fixture list for 2017-18 is set to be announced on Friday.
– This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za
