Real Madrid: How Zinedine Zidane plans to wrestle LaLiga from Barcelona and why his legacy is at stake this summer

Real Madrid: How Zinedine Zidane plans to wrestle LaLiga from Barcelona and why his legacy is at stake this summer
Last summer was an uncharacteristically austere one at Real Madrid. This summer will not be.Finishing 19 points behind Barcelona does not permit that. Finishing behind Atltico Madrid for a second season in a row does not permit that. Bringing back Zinedine Zidane does not permit that.Getty Images5

Zinedine Zidane is braced for the most important summer of his career

The French coach has more skin than most in this summers game. The three time Champions League winner was treated like a hero when he made a shock return to the Santiago Bernabu earlier this year. Treated as the only person capable of pulling Madrid out of their mess.Zidane had the leverage needed in negotiating his comeback to earn exceptional power in the transfer window that is rarely if ever granted to a Madrid coach. He will have a huge say on who they bring in and who they move on in the coming months.The success or failure of his moves in this transfer window in returning Madrid to the top will define part of his legacy. The operations will be many and they will be complicated. The first signings, winger Rodrgyo, defender der Milito and striker Luka Jovi, are only the tip of the iceberg. The trio are support players destined to enter into squad rotation and not direct requests from Zidane, who has his sights set on far bigger targets. The kind of signings Madrid failed to make last year with disastrous consequences.This year there is no doubt over who Zidanes first priority is. A priority he has been advocating since way back in 2009, when he first returned to Madrid as an advisor to Florentino Prez.“I would bring Eden Hazard to Real Madrid with my eyes closed, the Frenchman said of the then Lille player at the time. Chelsea ultimately beat Los Blancos to the punch, but matters will soon be put right.Getty5

Eden Hazard celebrates winning the Europa League in May

Hazard ticks so many boxes for Madrid in terms of quality, suitability for constructing a new team, and availability that hes effectively a ‘tap-in’ for both Zidane and the club.The Belgian is so consistent and so clearly ready for the step up that there is not even a molecule of doubt that he will perform.The more immediate consequence of his signing this summer though is a financial one: gone are the days when Real Madrid had the monetary advantage needed to out-muscle all-comers in the market.The economic strength of the top Premier League sides, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus means that with Hazard through the door, the Spanish giants will have to be more selective about their subsequent moves and how they use their resources.Getty Images5

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos had a tough season in Madrid and are battling for their places

So while the faltering performances of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric last season make it clear that a big-name midfielder needs to be brought in, there isnt the financial leeway to bring in two.Zidane prefers Paul Pogba, the club prefers Christian Eriksen. The resolution of that battle, how the chosen player performs, and who their principle backer at Madrid was, will be remembered.Sign Pogba, suffer a flat season from the France international at huge expense, and Zidanes support of him will not be overlooked. Or vice-versa, should the midfielder return to the level he showed at Juventus.Clinton Morrison says it comes as no shock that Christian Eriksen wants to leave TottenhamNegotiations for either midfielder will be prolonged and tricky, but a more straightforward operation is Ferland Mendy.The Lyon left-back is Zidanes express request to compete with the declining Marcelo, and the coach will get his way.Zizou already contacted the 23-year-old directly to convince him that he is in line to get enough minutes in 2019/20 to compete for a spot in Frances Euro 2020 squad, showing the Madrid boss is ready to be ruthless with the underperforming veteran who currently defends the left side of the defence. But as a key player in so many trophy wins, Marcelos shoes are big ones to fill, and there will be a large amount of scrutiny on the successor chosen by Zidane.Getty Images5

Mendy is one of Europe’s best young full-backs

Then there are his choices regarding who to move on. Funds are not limitless, and to complete the level of signings planned this summer, Madrid need to balance the books to the tune of around 200m in sales.Isco, Dani Ceballos, James Rodrguez, Marcos Llorente and Mateo Kovai are all likely candidates. Ral de Toms meanwhile, despite his strong season on loan at Rayo Vallecano, failed to do enough to earn support from Zidane, the signing of Jovi suggests.And this time around there was no great protest in favour of Keylor Navas either, who will finally be moved on to clear the way for under-fire Thibaut Courtois.This time Zidane picked his battles. One battle the manager has taken up though is his clear push to get rid of Gareth Bale, the Welshman dropped for two matches in a row then an unused substitute, denied any kind of send-off in the last game of the season at the Bernabu. No ambiguity about Zidanes wishes there.Getty Images5

Gareth Bale looks set to leave Real Madrid this year, whether on loan or permanently

Should any of the players who depart go on to perform exceptionally elsewhere it will likely become a point of contention remember the fuss over what happened with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder after being ushered out the door not too long ago. And this time, the buck stops with the manager.Every time Zidane says yes, says no, or says nothing at all in the coming weeks, it has the potential to be a moment of great consequence when conclusions are made this time next year.Club legend or otherwise, Zizou has a huge amount at stake this summer.

---

Update on Rob Holding Arsenal Media 07 Dec 2018 Further to the injury sustained during our match at Manchester United on Wednesday night, we can confirm that Rob Holding has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.
Arsenal Confirm Rob Holding Is Expected to Miss Up to 9

---

French club Nantes have demanded payment of the £15m transfer fee for Emiliano Sala to join Cardiff City. The 28-year-old striker who is presumed dead, went missing with Sala and pilot David Ibbotson on board two weeks ago. Investigators have discovered the plane in the English Channel with a body
Emiliano Sala: Nantes demand Cardiff pay £15m for missing

---

'A club asked to meet me to check I wasn't crazy' - Rose & Crouch discuss mental health BBC 00:10 17-May-19 England and Spurs defender Danny Rose reveals club wanted to check he wasn't 'crazy' before signing him Sunday Post 00:10 17-May-19

---

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba reveals what his relationship with Solskjaer is like. The midfielder's relationship with Jose Mourinho at Man Utd was turbulent but things have changed
Paul Pogba: Manchester United midfielder would be one of the

---

Roy Keane was a special guest on Super Sunday - and the Manchester United legend pulled no punches as he assessed the club's struggles this season.. Keane joined Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness in the Sky Sports studio ahead of the Super Sunday clash with Liverpool and the former United captain took on a range of topics, from United's defensive shortcomings to Jose Mourinho's Pogba
A forensic analysis of every Roy Keane comment on Liverpool v

---

West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to miss the remainder of the season after suffering yet another injury setback, according to The Sun. Wilshere has scarcely featured for West Ham this season due to various ankle problems and he has a fresh concern.
Jack Wilshere 'to Miss Rest of Season' After Aggravating

---

Welcome to football.london 's daily Arsenal live blog.. The football season is finally over and it's time to look ahead at the summer transfers Arsenal could make. The Gunners are reportedly in the market for a central defender, a midfielder and a winger, but funds could be restricted due to the failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal 'monitoring Galatasaray defender Ozan Kabak'

---

Arsenal fans' ill-feeling over Chelsea move still hard, admits Ashley Cole Ashley Cole revealed his acrimonious exit from Arsenal and the criticism he still gets from I didn't leave for no
Raheem Sterling: Manchester City forward is 'definitely NOT

---

Ruben Loftus-Cheek: Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri happy with midfielder's impact 'from a tactical point of view' Loftus-Cheek was a second-half goalscorer as Chelsea secured a 2-0 win against
Ruben Loftus-Cheek: Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri happy with

---

England vs Croatia: Harry Kane finds form, England show improvement and Nations League verdict the game and Jesse Lingard and Kane scored late to win the match 2-1 and top the group ahead of
England 2-1 Croatia, RESULT: Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane

---

It was another case of the late, late show from Tottenham Hotspur for the third consecutive Premier League match. A late Heung-Min Son goal was enough to break down Newcastle's stubborn resistance at Wembley and move Tottenham into second place in the Premier League. Mauricio Pochettino's side
Video: "We left it late, but it's the same three points

---

football live streaming england
tamil nadu premier league live streaming
football live streaming arabic
premier league live streaming now
live football streaming jamaica vs antigua
barclays premier league live streaming online free
youtube barclays premier league live streaming
football premier league live streaming
football live streaming barcelona vs real madrid
philippine collegiate champions league live streaming
uefa champions league draw live stream english
t10 premier league live streaming
bein sports premier league live streaming
free uefa champions league live streaming hotstar
champions league draw live stream eurosport
pakistan premier league live streaming in india
champions league live stream manchester united
uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming in india
champions league watch live australia
champions league knockout stage draw live streaming
premier league live streaming hotstar
celtic champions league live streaming
champions league live stream vip
sbs champions league live streaming
live streaming premier league liverpool vs burnley
maharashtra premier league live streaming
premier league games live stream online free
canadian premier league live streaming
sky sports champions league live streaming
juventus vs tottenham champions league live streaming
football live streaming isl
pakistan premier league live streaming 2018
egypt premier league live streaming
wales premier league live streaming
champions league live streaming barcelona vs manchester united
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
premier league live streaming in usa
champions league final live stream english
premier league live stream vpn
champions league live stream guardian
manchester barcelona champions league live streaming
football live streaming hd apk
champions league final live streaming channels
premier league live streaming canada
football live streaming sites in uae
champions league live streaming espn
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
barcelona vs roma champions league live streaming
champions league live stream atletico madrid vs chelsea
football live streaming england vs croatia
champions league final match live streaming online
premier league live streaming xbox
champions league live streaming app
nbc premier league live streaming
real vs bayern champions league live streaming
football live streaming free quora
dhaka premier league live match streaming
premier league live stream bt sport
football live streaming android
uefa champions league 2018 live streaming youtube
football live streaming channels
caribbean premier league live streaming sony six
premier league live audio streaming
premier league live stream espn
champions league live streaming radio
uefa champions league live video streaming free
manchester united vs juventus champions league live streaming
football live streaming europe
uefa champions league live streaming free online
barclays premier league live stream reddit
uefa champions league live streaming in pakistan
napoli liverpool champions league live streaming
premier league live stream australia
champions league live stream juventus vs atletico madrid
barca vs psg champions league live streaming
english premier league live streaming in pakistan
tottenham vs barcelona champions league live streaming
premier league live stream free app
premier league live stream singapore
football live streaming crichd
premier league live streaming india
sky sports premier league live streaming free
premier league live streaming match
premier league live stream south africa
football l
champions league live streaming barcelona vs liverpool
premier league live streaming uk
aek paok champions league live streaming
premier league live stream brighton
champions league live streaming ten sports reddit
premier league live stream mobile
live streaming champions league manchester city
uefa champions league live stream australia
champions league live stream juventus manchester united
champions league live streaming video free
premier league games live streaming free
premier league live video streaming free
champions league live stream koora
kolkata premier league live streaming
premier league live stream deutschland
dhangadhi premier league live streaming 2019
english premier league live streaming
football live streaming barcelona vs liverpool
live streaming champions league hari ini
football live stream extension
champions league live stream kostenlos heute
champions league qualification live streaming
champions league live streaming cr7
premier league live stream arsenal
where to watch premier league live streaming
premier league live streaming chelsea vs arsenal
football live streaming championship
champions league live streaming real madrid vs bayern munich free
live football streaming hesgoal
premier league live streaming xbox one
premier league live streaming service
football live streaming mobile free
football live streaming in mobile
watch premier league live stream hd
football live streaming india vs kenya
premier league live streaming cricfree
manchester united vs sevilla champions league live streaming
indian premier league 2019 live streaming live score and match highlights
juventus vs manchester united champions league live streaming
football live streaming bbc
football live streaming sky sports
champions league watch live uk
#likes4likes #Chelsea #ChampionsLeague #toronto #halamadrid #skysports #beinsports #Ronaldo #Instagood #433 #europaleague #LeoMessi #Casillas #pickering #pogba #Soccer #amsterdam #barcelona #RealMadrid #laliga #espndeportes #sports #durhamregion #bundesliga #sanchez #Cr7 #fifa #Manchesterunited #england #hakimziyech #courtois #football #Football #realmadrid #footy #transfers #Ajax #Ronaldo #Bale #amrabat #univisiondeportes #navas #Neymar #ronaldo #premierleague #manchestercity #Futbol #foxsports #ajaxamsterdam #united #footballmemes #likeforlike #realmadrid