• Real Madrid must do everything to convince their star player to stay
• Zinedine Zidane was right to leave
Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, Fabio Capello told Sky Sports Italia: “The new coach will have to put back together a jigsaw which could be losing pieces, including the most important Cristiano Ronaldo. He wants to return to Manchester United, with Mourinho.”
While speaking about the potential replacements for the 4 time Ballon d’Or winner, the Italian urged Los Blancos to look at the Bayern Munich striker: “If Madrid lose Cristiano’s goals, they must get most of them from somebody else. Lewandowski could come in place of Benzema, but Florentino is in charge, there’s nothing anybody else can do. So Zidane did the right thing, now he’s not subject to anyone.”
After the final in Kiev, Cristiano has shocked the fans by hinting at Madrid departure: “It’s been beautiful to play for Real Madrid. I’ll say more in the following days. We knew we were better than Liverpool. We are deserved winners.” He wants Florentino Perez to keep the promise and increase his current €21m-per-season salary to the region of what Neymar and Lionel Messi are being paid.
Fabio Capello has also backed Zinedine Zidane’s decision to leave Real Madrid after two and a half successful years in charge: “Zidane took the correct decision, he knew that Florentino would have sacked him if he did not win the Champions League. I was sacked after winning La Liga. It was a thought which was there before, when things were not going well, and the distance to Barcelona in La Liga was huge.”
On Thursday afternoon, Zidane has shocked the world by announcing his departure from Real Madrid, but did not blame Florentino Perez: “This team needs a change to keep winning. They need another way and another methodology. I love this club, I love the president. He gave me the opportunity to come as a player and now manager and I am eternally grateful. But we have to change. ”