Media: Real talent counters Zidane cheekily

Midfielder Dani Ceballos allegedly gave Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane a cheeky answer when the Frenchman told him he was no longer planning with him. This was reported by the Spanish newspaper AS.

The Spanish U21 national player Zidane replied: “No problem, boss. I didn’t want to continue working with you either.”

Ceballos, who scored a dream goal in his 3-1 defeat to Italy in Sunday’s opening match of the U21 European Championship, had recently indicated that he would remain with Real until 2023.

In view of Zidane’s short playing times, the 22-year-old also opened the door for a change: “When I leave, I want to play for a team that makes me feel important. I’m a young player who wants to succeed, so I don’t want to sit on the bench for another year.”

Ceballos had moved from Real Betis to the Royals in 2017, but had little chance in his first season under Zidane.

Even after the former world footballer’s return to Reals’ bench in March, Ceballos was usually left out in the cold, making only three out of a possible twelve games in LaLiga.

The most recent potential customer for Ceballos was the Champions-League finalist Tottenham. At the U21 European Championship, he will face Belgium and Poland with the Spaniards in the remaining games of the preliminary round.