Real Madrid News: 'Zidane wanted to keep Ronaldo and sell Bale': Former club president weighs in on why the Frenchman left

What's the story?

Former Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón has given his thoughts on why former club manager Zinedine Zidane made a shock exit from the position last summer.

In case you didn't know...

Zidane left the club last summer, a mere five days after leading the Los Blancos side to their third consecutive Champions League title.

After taking over from Rafael Benitez in January 2016, the Frenchman helped the side to a La Liga title, a Champions League crown, two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and one Spanish Super Cup.

Reports of a crack in his relationship with club president Florentino Perez over the transfer of players did the rounds soon after the news but Zidane was quick to dismiss the claims stating that the players had nothing to do with his decision to leave.

Zidane's exit was, of course, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Serie A giants Juventus.

Calderón, on the other hand, managed Real Madrid between 2006 and 2009 and was instrumental in bringing players like Robben and Cannavaro to the club.

The heart of the matter

Calderón has now weighed in on Zidane's exit, stating that the control that Perez had on the club's transfer activity was one of the reasons why he left.

The French manager apparently wanted to keep Ronaldo and sell Gareth Bale. "Zidane insisted on keeping Cristiano and selling Bale," the former club president said. (via Spanish publication AS).

"Perez did the opposite to what Zidane had asked."

Calderón added that the World Cup winner was right in leaving because of the lack of power in transfer decisions. "[Zidane wanted] to have decision-making power when it came to signing some players and selling others, but his demands were not met, and so he decided to leave. And he was right."

What's next?

Zidane, who has had a brief but trophy-laden stint at the club, is currently without a job and is yet to find the right club for himself after Real Madrid.

In La Liga, the Galacticos are trailing behind rivals and table-toppers Barcelona by ten points.