Zinedine Zidane To Leave Real Madrid Later This Season

Zinedine Zidane (Photo: Instagram @zidane)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has spoken to players that he will leave the club at the end of this season, Spanish media reported Saturday, May 15.

Radio channel Onda Cero, as reported by Reuters on Sunday, May 16, said Zidane informed him of his decision before Madrid were held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla in la Liga last weekend, which saw Los Blancos miss out on a chance to top the table.

Meanwhile, Marca newspaper said he spoke to the team on May 8 or the day before the game.

When asked if he would stay at Madrid until next season, Zidane did not dare to give any guarantees.

'I don't know what's going to happen. I'm still here, and we'll play tomorrow and next week, but I don't know what will happen next because it's Real Madrid," Zidane said in a press conference ahead of the match against Athletic Bilabo.

If Zidane actually leaves his post as Real Madrid coach then this will be the second time for him after he had also left in 2018 after winning a third consecutive Champions League trophy, only to return 10 months later.

Real Madrid currently overshadow la Liga leaders Athletico Madrid by two points.

They still have a good chance of retaining the title with two games remaining against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, 16 May, before ending the league season by hosting Villarreal on 23 May.

Real Madrid had previously been eliminated from the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by third division side Alcoyano last January, then eliminated By Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals after losing 1–3 on aggregate to Thomas Tuchel's side.