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Zinedine Zidane plays down talks of Raphael Varane exit amid Man Utd speculation

The France defender has been linked with a summer transfer.

Zinedine Zidane insists he is not prepared to let World Cup winner Raphael Varane leave Real Madrid.

The France defender, who joined Real from French side Lens in 2011, has been linked to a move away from the Bernabeu this summer.

"I don't want a Madrid without Varane," Zidane said at a press conference reported by marca.com.

"He's a young player (25), he's been here for eight years, he's doing fine.

"He didn't say anything to me. He's at the best club in the world and he knows it, he's won a lot of things."

Zidane added it would be "disrespectful" to talk about a dressing-room clear-out but acknowledged the club would have to make changes ahead of next season.

"There are many things that we are talking about changing next year, but you have to respect all of the players who are here," he continued.

"Talking about cleaning (out the dressing room) seems disrespectful.

"We're going to have to make changes, but this is not the time to talk about it."

The manager, who took over for a second time less than a month ago, would also not be drawn into commenting on the future of Real's record signing Gareth Bale after the Welshman was booed by Madrid supporters during the 3-2 win over Huesca on Sunday.

Zidane told the press conference, also reported on the club's website: "The whistles are never good, but they also booed at me and you have to accept it.

"You have to have personality for that and to accept what people want.

"Regarding the future of Gareth and other players, we'll see."

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3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia1826101728-1112
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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