Zidane: I want James to stay at Real Madrid

The Real Madrid coach has said that his side features too many playmakers but wants the Colombian star to stay for at least another season.

Posted Wednesday, August 03, 2016 by Goal.com

Zidane: I want James to stay at Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane has insisted he wants James Rodriguez to stay.

Rodriguez has been constantly linked with a move away from the Spanish capital as he seemed to have fallen out of favor under Zidane, having previously played larger roles under former coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez.

And Zidane has said he will find it difficult to fit everyone in, suggesting there could be some departures this summer, but he maintains he wants the Colombian to stay.

"There are many players in that position, so nothing is closed," he told reporters. "We will talk about this when we return to Madrid. There are many players in this position and it is difficult to fit them all in. Moreover, they are all very good. We will make decisions.

"I do not want James to leave. He is a Madrid player, he just wants to play more, but you have to do what he is doing and work. I hope to play him more this year but I want everyone to give their maximum, and then I decide before every game.

"And I have 25 players, so I do not have anything against James, people always ask me the same. James is well in Madrid."