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REAL MADRID

Zidane: Real Madrid out to limit media duties - for now at least

Madrid are acutely aware of Zinedine Zidane's rising uneasiness during press conferences. He is not likely to speak to the media after the Roma game.

Update:
Zidane: Real Madrid out to limit media duties - for now at least
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELADIARIO AS

Real Madrid are trying to limit Zinedine Zidane's exposure to the media - at least until the season proper starts next weekend - with the LaLiga giants' head coach not expected to give any interviews after tonight's friendly against Roma.

Club aware of Zidane uneasiness caused chiefly by transfer talk

The club have become acutely aware of the Frenchman's increasing inability to conceal his uneasiness during recent press conferences, particularly when facing questions about possible signings and players tipped to depart the Bernabéu.

During this summer's International Champions Cup, Zidane spoke to the media before matches because this was in Madrid's contract with the tournament organisers. In the Audi Cup, on the other hand, the lack of such a contractual commitment saw him avoid having to give news conferences in the build-up to the games against Tottenham Hotspur and Fenerbahce.

The 47-year-old also did not speak before Wednesday's friendly against Red Bull Salzburg, or on Saturday as Real Madrid prepared for their trip to the Italian capital, in what is Los Blancos' final fixture of the pre-season period.

LaLiga, Champions League commitments harder to sidestep

Once the 2019/20 campaign gets underway, however, the media obligations that Madrid are contractually required to fulfil in both LaLiga and the Champions League mean they will be left with very little room for manoeuvre when it comes to protecting their head coach from such duties.