Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid ‘Monitoring’ Raheem Sterling’s LFC Progress

Zinedine Zidane is preparing Real Madrid’s opening move for Raheem Sterling.

Zidane said Monday that Real Madrid is monitoring Sterling’s progress with Liverpool with an eye toward a potential transfer, the Mail, the Mirror and the Guardian reported Monday. Zidane, coach of Real Madrid’s reserve team, said the Spanish club rates Sterling as one of the best young players in the sport.

“We know who Raheem Sterling is, and of course we are monitoring him as a player,” Zidane said. “There are very few players in the world who can improve the Real Madrid squad, so it is going to make sense we monitor the progress of the best young players in the world. We monitored (Gareth) Bale for over a year, the same with Isco and also (Raphael) Varane.

“We monitor many of the best young players in Europe, then if we feel they have something to offer Real Madrid, we will contact their club and try and make the next step.”

Sterling currently is in a high-profile contract standoff with Liverpool. The 20-year-old forward shelved negotiations until after this season, and he will enter the final two years of his current deal this summer. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant the Sterling will stay at Anfield this summer, but rampant speculation claims Sterling is considering taking his talents elsewhere.

Real Madrid has a history of using public comments like Zidane’s to launch campaigns to recruit top players to the Spanish capital. This is step one. Months of rumor spinning often follow before Real Madrid finally bids for the player it wants … and often gets.