'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Former Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon has claimed that former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was against selling Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, he had asked Fiorentino Perez to sell Gareth Bale last summer, according to various news outlets.
Calderon also hinted at Zidane's potential power struggle with Perez at the Santiago Bernabeu, that might have forced the Frenchman to step down as the Los Blancos manager soon after leading them to an unprecedented 13th UEFA Champions League triumph.
In case you didn't know...
Ramon Calderon was the president of one of the biggest club of the world from 2006 to 2009. He had brought key players like Robben, Cannavaro and Ruud van Nistelrooy to the club.
Ronaldo brought his nine-year spell at the club to an end this summer when the LaLiga giants saw their best player and five time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo follow Zidane out of the Bernabeu by joining Juventus in a €100 million deal last summer.
Zidane at the moment, however, is without a job.
The heart of the matter
Calderon was reported by Spanish media outlet AS saying that Zidane's suggestions and plans regarding transfer plans always fell on the deaf ears of club president Perez and he was the reason why Ronaldo was sold off before this season kicked off.
He said: (Via Goal)
"Zidane insisted on keeping Cristiano and selling Bale.Perez did the opposite to what Zidane had asked."
Perez favored retaining Bale at the club, against the wishes of the then-manager and didn't grant him much authority when it came to transfer and thus, the former Galactico was left with no choice but to resign from the position to bring an end to what had been a successful first managerial stint.
Ramon further explained:
"[Zidane wanted] to have decision-making power when it came to signing some players and selling others, but his demands were not met, and so he decided to leave. And he was right."
What's next?
Zidane, who proved his managerial acumen at the club, is yet to take up a managerial job following his departure from Real Madrid.
The club is still recovering from the double shock of Ronaldo and Zidane leaving the club and need to find their rhythm if they are to challenge for the league title, with Barcelona leading the charts with a solid 10-point lead over them at the moment.
