"I want Jovic here" - says Zidane after Mayoral claims Real Madrid coach wanted to let him go
Borja Mayoral said Zinedine Zidane wanted him to stay and Luka Jovic to move on, but the Real Madrid boss had his say on Friday.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes he will not have a problem motivating Luka Jovic despite Borja Mayoral claiming the French coach wanted to get rid of him.
Mayoral left the LaLiga champions to join Roma on loan this month after returning to Santiago Bernabeu following two seasons with Levante.
The forward this week said Zidane wanted him to remain in Madrid and offload Serbia striker Jovic instead.
Jovic responded to those comments by telling El Chiringuito TV that "maybe" Mayoral was right and "You have to ask the club."
Zidane on Friday brushed away suggestions Jovic may be surplus to requirements and says he can play a part for Madrid this season.
Zidane: conversation with my players are behind closed doors
"The conversations I have with my footballers are behind closed doors," the Madrid head coach said during a media conference on the eve of the LaLiga clash with Cadiz.
"They are private and what goes on in the dressing room, stays in the dressing room. I'm not going to talk about what's going on beyond this club, on this group of footballers and that's my sole interest.
"The conversations with my footballers and private and will stay that way."
Asked if it might be tough to motivate Jovic, Zidane replied: "Jovic is a Real Madrid player. I want Jovic here.
"Lots of people can have their opinion, they are entitled to their opinion, we have to live with that. But Jovic is a Real Madrid player."
Zidane on Real Madrid rotations
Zidane plans to rotate his squad with a hectic schedule to come.
He added: "We have spoken about this many times. To win things in a very long season we need to make rotations, and we have very good players who allow us to make changes.
"People need to remember what this team has lived through, the players never rest. We have a run of seven games and then they all go off with their national teams again.
"But I'm not complaining, I'm only explaining that it is necessary to rotate and I think we can still win while doing that."