Zinedine Zidane blasts suggestions he has told Real Madrid squad he is leaving

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has hit back at reports suggesting he has already told his players that he will be leaving the club this summer.

Rumours from across Europe have suggested that Zidane, whose future has been up in the air for what feels like an eternity anyway, has already confessed to his squad that he plans to walk away, regardless of whether they win La Liga.

The timing did seem a little odd - dropping that bombshell on a team in a title race isn't exactly ideal - and Zidane could not understand where the reports had come from.

"How could I tell the players I'm leaving now? We're giving our everything for the title and I just say 'by the way, I'm off'?" he said (via Marca). People outside the club can say whatever they like, but I would never, ever say that to my players.

"At the end of the season, then we'll see what happens, but right now we're focused on our final game.

"We can't just keep talking about my future. The last game of the season is far more important than that."

Defender Nacho also cast doubt on the reports, adding: "News has come out that he told us something in a talk, I don't know, the coach has a contract and is fine with us, but it is a decision that he and the club will make."

The idea of Zidane stepping down cannot be ruled out, however, and Real are bracing themselves for such an announcement by starting their search for a replacement.

Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was recently named as the favourite for the role after holding talks with president Florentino Perez, but Castilla boss Raul Gonzalez remains on the shortlist as well.

It could all come down to whether Real win the La Liga title. They will enter their final-day clash with Villarreal on Sunday knowing anything other than three points will not be good enough to overtake an Atletico Madrid side who boast a two-point advantage and must face already-relegated Real Valladolid.

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