Real Madrid move for Cesc Fabregas 'complicated' - Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has said a deal for Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is "not very straightforward" and insisted James Rodriguez will stay at the Bernabeu.

Antonio Conte left Fabregas on the bench for Chelsea's 2-1 win over West Ham on Monday and, while the new Blues boss says the 29-year-old can force his way back into the team, his omission has raised doubts over his future.

A number of clubs around Europe have been linked with Fabregas, including Madrid, but Zidane said a deal for the former Barcelona player may not be practical.

Speaking to reporters after Madrid's win over Reims in the Santiago Bernabeu trophy match on Tuesday, Zidane said: "If you want to put another central midfielder into the mix then it becomes complicated.

"Cesc is a great player but it is not very straightforward. I am going to end up with a squad where three or four players do not get selected. To therefore put another player in there makes it difficult."

Cesc Fabregas did not play in Chelsea's Premier League opener on Monday.

Zidane left James out of his starting lineup for the recent European Super Cup win over Sevilla, fuelling speculation he was surplus to requirements, but the Colombia international started and scored in the victory over Reims and now appears set to stay.

"James is here, I am happy with how he played and he will be staying here," Zidane said. "I will always respond in the same way to that. I'm tired of having to give a response. My stance is not going to change."

The European champions have had an uncharacteristically quiet summer in the market, with Alvaro Morata, who was repurchased from Juventus, and Marco Asensio, back at the club after loans with Real Mallorca and Espanyol, the main additions ahead of the new season.

Zidane said Madrid would not know their final squad until the window closes on Aug. 31 but added: "I don't think we will be bringing players in.

"The squad is complete, but anything can happen. I am happy with the squad, with the players we have, and that is that."

He said it was "not always necessary" to make significant investment in the squad each summer and added: "Regardless of what happens, I hope to be here in a year's time and I'll say the same thing.

"I'm happy with the players I've got -- these same players won the Champions League. What I want us to do is to work hard all year round, because you don't just win things because you're Real Madrid. You have to work and that's all I want from the players."