Zidane hopes Messi and Ramos plays in more El Clasicos

Zidane hopes Messi and Ramos plays in more El Clasicos

Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi

Real Madrid and Barcelona revive their rivalry in La Liga on Saturday once again. The match could have a great impact on the title race in Spain which will boil down to the wire this season.

Real Madrid’s captain Sergio Ramos and Barcelona’s talisman Lionel Messi are both in their final year of contract at their respective clubs and could potentially play their final El Clasicos of their career.

Zidane faces the prospect of missing 4 key players for the El Clasico

Real Madrid coach, Zidane however opines that both players should continue as it would be better for the Spanish league in the days to come.

“I hope it’s not (Messi’s last Clasico), I want him to stay at Barcelona, it’s good for the Spanish league,” Zidane told a news conference.

“We know what a player he is, but they’re a very good team and we’ll have to try and stop them playing to their strengths and be as good as we can be on the ball and play as best as we can.”

Real’s club captain Sergio Ramos is another player whose contract expires at the end of the season, and Zidane reiterated his hope that the 35-year-old has not faced Barcelona for the final time, either.

“Hopefully he’s not played his last Clasico. He won’t be fit tomorrow, which is a shame, but I hope he stays here,” the French coach said.

Zidane will also be without Raphael Varane, who continues to isolate following a positive Covid-19 test, however Dani Carvajal and Eden Hazard have returned to training. FC Barcelona are currently 2 points ahead of their rivals and a win for either side will boost their chances of taking down Atletico from the top of the league.

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