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Zinedine Zidane

MADRID. – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he hopes to keep Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo at the club, while remaining coy over their chances of signing Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid have been linked with a big-money move for Mbappe this summer, with reports suggesting that Bale or Benzema would be allowed to leave should they sign the France international. Sources have told ESPN that United would be interested in Bale should he become available.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, was also linked with an exit from Madrid this summer, with sources saying last month that he wanted to quit the Santiago Bernabeu and leave Spain after being accused of tax evasion, although he now appears committed to the club.

Zidane, however, is hopeful that all three of the “BBC” – Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo – will remain at Madrid, though he is not sure where Mbappe will be playing his football next season.

“Let’s hope that all of the members of the ‘BBC’ stay here,” Zidane told Madrid’s official website. “I want the ‘BBC’ to stay put, it’s the same for all of the players who are here. That said, up until August 31 anything can happen.” – ESPN.