Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez has said Zinedine Zidane convinced him to stay at the club rather than leave elsewhere for more first team opportunities.
The 20-year-old striker was linked with a host of clubs in the summer after he struggled to make a breakthrough at the Santiago Bernabeu under previous boss Jose Mourinho. But with a new management team coming in, Zidane persuaded Jese to stay and fight for his place.
Soon after his arrival Carlo Ancelotti pledged to use more youngsters, and he gave Jese and Alvaro Morata the chance to establish themselves with Los Blancos when he decided not to sign another forward after the sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli. Jese admitted that gave him the confidence to fight for his place with the nine-times European Cup winners.
Speaking to Minuto 116, the striker said: “Zidane is the main reason why I am still at Real Madrid. If I keep working day by day, opportunities will come. The coach is slowly trusting in me and that makes me happy.”
The forward has made three appearances this season, all coming from the bench.
