Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes the club must be patient and not rush Cristiano Ronaldo back from injury.
The Portuguese ace has not featured for club or country since picking up a knee injury during the European Championship final against France on July 10.
The 31-year-old has since been on holiday and he played no part in Los Blancos’ International Champions Cup campaign, which culminated in a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
It remains unclear when the former Manchester United ace will return to first-team action, but Zidane has called for the club’s supporters to be patient as he eases his way back to full fitness.
“Right now he still has his injury,” Zidane said. “Obviously he wants to be back but we need patience and for him to be calm.
He will be back with us soon in Madrid.” Zidane has already ruled the forward out of next week’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Sevilla in Trondheim, while his participation in their first match of the new La Liga season, away at Real Sociedad on August 21, also remains in doubt.
Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have also not featured during Real’s pre-season preparations in the United States, but Zidane remains happy with the work that the rest of the squad have carried out.
He added: “Overall I am very happy with what we have done this pre-season and the work we have done.” Last season’s Champions League winners have not claimed overall glory in La Liga since 2012, but they are available at 2.50 to end that mini drought this season.
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