Zidane: Bale sale not required to sign Hazard

Zinedine Zidane insisted he would not have to sell Gareth Bale in order to bring Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, but accepted that new arrivals could cause problems for current members of his squad.

Speculation linking Hazard with a move to Santiago Bernabeu continues to escalate, and the player himself said he was “very happy” to see Zidane return to the role of head coach in March.

The prospect of Hazard being added to the squad has only increased the mounting rumours suggesting Bale could be on his way out of the club, but the head coach was quick to put distance between the two situations.

Asked whether he would need to sell the likes of Bale in order to make room for a signing such as the Chelsea forward, Zidane told reporters: “No. But it’s going to be a squad.

“If you buy players, you have to accept we’re a squad of 24 or 25, and if we buy players then it’s clear that someone has to make way.

“But this is a normal thing of any club’s staff. What I see is that you only ask me, despite the situation being the same in all the teams and coaches that change things.”

The lads’ final pre-@GetafeCF training session is underway!#RMCity | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/XmkZ4AymtT

— Real Madrid C.F.