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Real Madrid superstars Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have both been linked with a move away from the Bernabaeu by the Spanish and English press, but coach Zinedine Zidane has shrugged off any possibilities of that happening anytime soon.
World-record signing Gareth Bale, who was signed for A?86m from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013, has been linked with a move back to England.
There have also been reports of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid after his apparent spats with Rafael Benitez.
Zidane veers off baseless romours
Ronaldo has scored 12 goals in 12 appearances this season, but the Portuguese is not at his best, also looking unhappy with the system and style of play adopted by Benitez. But Zidane says that star players will always be talked about, no matter how good or bad the player’s form is.
He spoke to Shortlist saying: “No he is not for sale, it wouldn’t make sense. Big players are what people want to read about, so that is why they are written about, but why would Real Madrid have any intention of selling the best player in the world?
“Cristiano Ronaldo has been the best player in the world for the past few years, and he knows he is the best.
“It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t work hard, or that he doesn’t want to improve and get better, but he has that confidence where he knows how good he is.”
Bale’s future is at Real Madrid
Gareth Bale has had two contrasting seasons at the Spanish Capital. His first season couldn’t have been better, as he guided Madrid to Champions League success. The 2014-15 season was one to forget for the Welshman, and his latest campaign has been quite anonymous as well. But Zidane is certain that the 26-year-old’s future is at Real Madrid.
“Of course clubs are going to want Gareth, he is one of the best in the world, but I am not sure how much clearer we can be.
“Gareth has made it clear, his agent has made it clear, we have made it clear, his future is at Real Madrid.
“We sign the best players in the world, we don’t sell them.”
Will Ronaldo end his career at Madrid?
The seeds of legend were sown at the time when Ronaldo signed for Manchester United in 2003, where he was nurtured by Sir Alex Ferguson for seven years. While he established himself in Manchester, few people expected him to be the player that he has become.
The three time Ballon d’Or winner has become a goal-machine at Madrid, recently becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer. It is fair to say, Ronaldo has played his best football at the Spanish Capital.
While pace and power are attributes Ronaldo is usually related to, he no longer relies on them for his goals. His natural finishing and right-place-right-time ability is what sets him apart from the rest.
But although Ronaldo is hailed as almost superhuman, his influence on the field has to diminish at some point. He cannot keep scoring at the same rate for the remaining five years of his career. And Ronaldo does not like to play second fiddle. He would rather be a big fish in a small pond than take the back seat at arguably the world’s best club.
A move away from the Bernabeau is foreseeable. United fans who are reading this, are sure to get an adrenaline rush.