Zinedine Zidane: "The tenth European cup is necessary"

The football director of the first team evaluated the Real Madrid season in an interview with French media: "The league championship won is deserved" he said and praised his countrymen Benzema and Varane

Zinedine Zidane

It was a great season for Real Madrid. You should be proud of it.
Of course. We are proud to be part of a club that has just break incredible records on the number of goals scored and points earned. It's a nice adventure for everyone who has supported this project.

Real Madrid managed to end the hegemony of Barcelona.
We had to try to reverse the trend. We were not champions since three years. When you are in Real Madrid, the goal is to advance. Is what we have done throughout the course. We had difficult times, but did not give up. Ending the season with 32 wins in 38 games is simply amazing.

And team has reached 100 points. Impressive, isn't it?
We had to look and perform this great achievement. We were under great pressure with a team that followed us throughout the season. However, we do not throw the towel. We played our football and I think it was an absolutely deserved league title.

The difference between Real Madrid and Barcelona with the rest of the teams in Spain seems important. Do you think the championship has been easy?
There are no small teams. You can say whatever you want and some say there is a league of two different speeds. However, I do not think at all. In Spain there is a strong championship, perhaps the strongest in Europe. It is always difficult. We have not taken this advantage because the others were weak, but because we have been strong.

The only disappointment came in the Champions League with Bayern. How would you rate the second leg match at the Bernabeu?
We are not going to remake the match. There are times when everything goes in favor and some not. Penalties are anecdotal, nothing more. We wanted to reach the final.

Could not reach the tenth European Cup...
The tenth is necessary. It could have been this year, but we have to try next. We do not have to look back, we just need to concentrate to go further next season.

Benzema. How do you see his progression?
He still has room for improvement. This year confirmed the potential we saw in him. He played for the team. As well as his goals, what I remember about him is his importance in the team game. He particularly advanced in this regard. Now is still young and still has much to do and give. He must do the same in Eurocup and it will be a great year for him.

Varane also shined. You chose well.
What is certain is that he worked hard to play the games he played, about fifteen. With his age and in a first season, is extraordinary. He answered in the field. Everyone is happy with him, Varane is a smart kid who learns quickly. He will improve playing with players like Pepe, Ramos, Albiol and Marcelo.

Enzo Zidane trained with Real Madrid

Mourinho welcomes Enzo Zidane

Enzo Zidane trained for the first time with the first team of Real Madrid this afternoon in Valdebebas Sports City. Zinedine's son is 16 years old and plays for Real Madrid C in the youth squads of the white club when he has played in all ranks.

Mourinho welcomed Enzo Zidane before the start of training and was well embraced by peers, especially by youth players as Morata and Alex Fernandez, who also attended the training session, and his father, director of the first team who was in Valdebebas.

Enzo Zidane performed the same exercises as the rest of the squad in the open part of the training. The young player has not made ​​a decision on whether to play for the national teams of Spain or France.

Zidane: Director of football of the Real Madrid first squad

Zinedine Zidane, who until now held the position of adviser to the Real Madrid president said that he is "Director of football of the first team". In his decision says that "Mourinho has influenced but Florentino more". These statements were made ​​in the charity game organized by the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Mourinho and Zidane

On the tasks that he will assume has not been very specific: "We will see. Everyone asks me the same thing, but I will be there from next Monday until the end of season", he said.

Also, the former player talked about the signing of Varane: "He has a tremendous future, it is good to go so young to Real Madrid. The coach thinks he is good for the team so he is signed. He has the ability to play on this team. Although there are very good defenses as Ramos, Carvalho... Raphael can help and be a starter in the future".

As for the name of the summer, Neymar, Zidane said: "He looks a lot like Robinho but is better because he has a little more instinct to the goal". "He's a player who may be interesting to Real Madrid", he added. Also, understand that Barcelona was interested in taking the services of Brazilian: "It is natural because all teams want him. The season begins Monday and will see what the club decides. The decision will be quietly. We have to go step by step" .

Zidane: "Varane is a player that is not easy to find"

Zinedine Zidane was yesterday in Aix-en-Provence in southern France. There, was inagurated a sports complex (Z5) and he spoke of Raphael Varane, next Real Madrid signing. "He's a talented and promising player. Is logical that top clubs were interested on him seeking talent, as is the case of Real Madrid. He is a player I like very much. He is a type of defender is not easy to find. From Laurent Blanc, I saw very good central defenders, but none with such serenity. In that sense Varane resembles Blanc. I have not seen many players like that".

Zinedine Zidane: Z5 Sports Complex

Florentino Perez's adviser was asked about the possibilities for the young Lens player to succeed in Real Madrid: "Varane has a great future. If the big clubs wanted to sign him is that he has talent. As director of the first team, I am in my right to go to find promising players. I'm also happy because he is French. I know people in France would have liked that he stays here, but I'm just doing my job".

Zidane was who recommended Mourinho the signing of this young central defender, 18 years old. The Portuguese began to watch videos of his performances and was more than convinced. So much that he (along with Zizou) spoke with Varane and the operation was accelerated to the point that is expected that player passes a medical examination on Monday. So said on Wednesday Gervais Martel, president of the Lens, who confessed: "Mourinho and Zidane spoke with Raphael and the player told me he wanted to go. He will wear the Real Madrid jersey and I'm proud". The operation will be closed between 9 and 10 million euros and Varane will play for Real until 2016.

Zidane aims at Hazard and Varane

Zidane is one of the scouts in the Real Madrid and his opinion is increasingly important for the club. Especially now that is next to Jose Mourinho, reviewing the videos and talking about football for hours. On the French market, his main field to work, is closely watching two players.

The first one is Eden Hazard, 20, recently crowned Champion of Ligue 1 with Lille, confirming that he is one of the new talents in French football. He was the best player of the French tournament, proving to be a leader prepared to take the leap to a big team. The footballer, Belgium international, has confirmed all the expectations that Zidane had put on him. The former Real Madrid player has warned to Real Madrid for months on the quality of a player with some unusual conditions.

"I would sign Hazard for Madrid with my eyes closed. I would sign him", said Zidane. Real Madrid has long known that that he is a player who must be taken into account, who is growing to succeed in a great team and this season has taken a leap in quality. In favor of Hazard is also his mentality. He is a boy "made ​​in Zizou", focused and humble. The team that gets the player, would get a player with a great future and will not be disappointed by his behavior off the pitch. An exemplary player.

Hazard and Varane

The other player is Raphael Varane,18 years old, central defender from Lens. The young footballer who made his debut in Ligue 1 this season (French international under-21) is a valued player of the European market, because the Lens has fallen to the Ligue 2.

Varane has a contract with his current club until 2015 but has expressed his desire to leave the team. "I want to continue learning in top level competitions to develop my career", he said about the possibility of going abroad. Manchester United, for example and according to L'Equipe, has offered 10.5 million euros for a central defender who attracts the interest of a dozen teams: Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Malaga, Borussia, Lille, Lyon, PSG...

The player is outstanding for domination of the aerial game (1.91m and 85 kg). This season he has played 23 games and scored two goals. Lens, however, ended the season in the penultimate position, as the second most thrashed team (58 goals). But Wallemme, the coach who gave him the opportunity to play in Ligue 1, highlights his enormous potential: "I ​​was impressed by his expertise and serenity". Zidane, who has assumed more importance after the dismissal of Valdano, will be attentive.

Ronaldo Nazario and Zidane: Galactic scouts

Ronaldo and Zidane: Galactic Scouts

The former galactics already recommend about the galactics of the future. The story focuses on that Florentino Perez has created a bond with his former stars. Zidane already works for Real Madrid as advisor to the president and as link between teh template and the Board. And Ronaldo Nazario, who recently hung up his boots, begins to recommend about the young talents from Brazil.

Neymar's case has revealed a secret: Ronaldo, who was the third galactic of Florentino, is willing to put on alert to Madrid at the time when a different player appears on Brazil. He has done it recommending Neymar and is ready to do the same with upcoming talents.

The same goes for Zidane, who lives in Madrid but has under control the French football and speaks regularly with Laurent Blanc, the coach of France. Zidane's opinion is taken into account in the club. He speaks daily with Mourinho and Miguel Pardeza, in addition to having direct line to Florentino. Real Madrid has now well controlled the market in France and Brazil.

Zidane: The elegance of a plain hero

The sporting life of the former player of Real Madrid and French national team, Zinedine Zidane, has been represented in the book "The elegance of a plain hero", launched at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. A book that in the opinion of president Florentino Perez, portrays a player "essential" in the club's history.

Zidane: The elegance of a plain hero

"The white heroes are our players, are the main protagonists of the myth of Real Madrid.The story needs to be strengthened each season. Zidane magnified to Real Madrid, with his class, talent and touch to the ball, unforgettable for those who saw him play. Being president of Real Madrid is accumulated joys and sorrows. Satisfaction days are those days of the signing of Zidane", said Florentino Perez.

Zidane was grateful for having been the subject of a biographical work and for having played for Real Madrid: "I want to thank the President for bringing me to Madrid. It is the dream of many players. I had the opportunity to play five years in the best club in the world. That's a lot", said the Frenchman.

"Now I am working with the club, and I hope to stay at Real Madrid for many years", said Zinedine, who, following the out of Jorge Valdano, will become the right hand of Jose Mourinho in sporting issues. Zidane showed himself honored to appear in this series of biographies of Real Madrid legends after Di Stefano, Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Now, enjoy and buy it", he concluded.

The author of the book, the journalist Enrique Ortego, said: "I came back to feel myself young writing a book that chronicles the steps of one of the best players in the history of football and Real Madrid". "Here is Zidane, eleven years later, with unforgettable memories of five years with the white shirt. Here lives happily with his family, his children, engaged in follow the footsteps of their father. Review his life, see pictures of matches, his goal of Glasgow, the dribblings.. It has been like rejuvenate a few years", he said.

Florentino Perez: "We will not stop until the tenth"

Florentino Perez took the presentation of the book "Zidane: The elegance of a plain hero" at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, to send a message to all the Real Madrid fans on what is his main target as president of the club: "We will not stop until the tenth Champions League". With these words the Real Madrid president made ​​clear that his dream is to return the club to the continental hegemony.

Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane

Seated at the right hand of the president was Zinedine Zidane as an exceptional witness, the main architect of the last Champions has come to the showcases of the Bernabeu Stadium and for whom Florentino was full of praise: "Zidane was strategic in 2000. His signing had become an obsession and a dream for me. It took us longer than we thought, but finally he got home, the Real Madrid. His goal in the final in Glasgow is the best in the history of the competition; beauty and complexity, implementation and importance. With him we won our ninth European Cup and no doubt that we will not stop until the tenth".

Zinedine Zidane responded to the praise of the president: "I thank you for bringing me to Madrid. To play here is the dream of many and I was lucky. And I had the opportunity to be five years in the best club in the world".

French former player, who from months ago has become part of the establishment of the club, expressed his desire to remain joined to the institution: "I am now working with the club and look forward to working many years here with Mourinho, Butragueño, Pardeza...".

Zinedine Zidane will be the Real Madrid's sporting director

Zinedine Zidane: New Real Madrid sporting director

After the Jorge Valdano's leaving of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane will become the new sporting director of Real Madrid Football Club. Florentino Perez is doing a renovation in the flowchart of white team and the French will win more weight in the Real Madrid in this way.

The name of Zinedine Zidane as the successor to Valdano was already playing in a while, but it was May 17 when was finally materialized the new position that he would occupy in the Real Madrid club. Florentino Perez and 'Zizou' agreed to plan the new role of former French international.

So now, Zidane will be in charge of both the first and the second team (Real Madrid Castilla) and will travel with the squad of Jose Mourinho. He will be the president's right hand in sporting issues and will accompany the team in national competition matches and in the European Cup (Champions League).

Zinedine Zidane returned to Real Madrid in October 2009, when he joined the Football Committee of Real Madrid. Zizou refused leadership and fled from the spotlight. The proof is that neither he had an office nor was an employee of Real Madrid, but was made available to Real Madrid to share views on any issue in the football plot.