Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, said on Tuesday that star player, Cristiano Ronaldo is eager to return to action as the club prepares to kick start their Champions League campaign Wednesday night against APOEL Nicosia.
Zidane said in a pre-match conference, “He’s in a very good mood and is very happy to play, because this is what he really loves, playing football, but he’s also right mentally and he’s happy to be on the pitch again,”
Ronaldo was given a 5-game ban for being sent off and pushing a referee in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona in August.
The 32-year-old has not fixture in Los Vikingos’s first three Liga games and will miss next week’s trip to Real Sociedad, but he is clear to face Cypriot champions APOEL.
Zidane said, “We all know how good Cristiano is and I prefer him to be with us all the time. We can’t talk about Cristiano-dependence, I want everyone to be available all the time.”
The Frenchman added, “Cristiano doesn’t just contribute goals, he’s a leader, he always wants to win and he transmits that to everyone else. We’re all excited to have him back with us.”
Ronaldo’s return boosts will Los Blancos’s attack after a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Levante on Saturday, their second successive home draw which left them trailing early Liga leaders Barcelona and Real Sociedad by 4 points.
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