Transfer Centre

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane will not request striker signing

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2017

Zinedine Zidane says that he is "happy" with the performance levels of each of his Real Madrid players, as he leaps to the defence of misfiring striker Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has defended the form of Karim Benzema and claimed that he is "not going to ask" for a new striker to be recruited in January.

Los Blancos have been strongly linked with Inter Milan ace Mauro Icardi in the build-up to the winter window, as they reportedly seek a replacement for misfiring Benzema.

The 29-year-old has netted just four goals in 14 La Liga and Champions League appearances, while also failing to take his chances in Wednesday's 2-1 win against Al Jazira Club in the Club World Cup semi-finals.

With a couple of weeks to go until the transfer window reopens, however, Zidane has again attempted to play down talk of a replacement striker being sought.

"I'm not going to ask for it [a signing] at all," he told reporters. "Karim is fine, he has not scored. You can always give an opinion, it seems that Karim has to always score, he has played well, he has moved well, he and Cristiano [Ronaldo].

"I'm a little disappointed because he wanted to score, I'm happy with everyone's game. Yes, we have suffered, but it happens in football - sometimes [the ball] does not want to go in and we have to play with this from time to time."

Ronaldo and the returning Gareth Bale scored for Madrid against Al Jazira to book a place in this weekend's final.