Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has blamed the club’s board for not signing Christian Eriksen and Donn Van de Beek this summer.
The Spanish side were thumped 3-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League during the week as the pressure increases on the French boss. They are in third spot in La Liga with two wins and two draws so far, but the Champions League is seen as the ultimate prize.
Zidane managed to bring in Eden Hazard from Chelsea before the window slammed shut – but they were frustrated on a number of other deals. Paul Pogba, Eriksen and Van de Beek were linked all summer, but nothing materialised.
Meanwhile the likes of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez were deemed surplus to requirements but no other club wanted them. They are not featuring in the starting XI.
When Zidane was asked at a press conference whether he had turned down signing Eriksen and Van de Beek, he answered: “I’m not going to say yes or no to that, it was up to the club. We have the squad we have. You could ask the same about Pogba and other players. I’m not getting into it”
Spanish press are already reporting that Zidane, in his second spell at Real Madrid, could be set for a swift exit. Ruthless president Florentino Perez has a host of big names in the pipeline including former boss Jose Mourinho. The unemployed Portuguese manager is still looking for work after being sacked at Manchester United in December 2018.
He would remain the favourite to make a sensational Bernabeu return having won the Copa del Rey and La Liga during his time there between 2010 and 2013. Perez has long made it clear that he regrets his decision to allow Mourinhoto leave after three seasons in which his battles with Barcelona turned La Liga into a war-ground.
But the Real chief has retained relationships with Mourinho and his entourage and is believed to feel the Portuguese is the only man who can get the club back on an even keel. Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is among the contenders having left the Old Lady in the summer. And former stars Raul and Xabi Alonso have been touted for the position.
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