- 20 Dec 2024
Zidane: I’m not to blame for Luka Jovic’s Real Madrid failure
Emmet Gates
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:45 CDT
- 2 min read
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has stated that Luka Jovic’s struggles at the club isn’t down to him.
Jovic was signed for €60m in the summer of 2019 after scoring 27 goals in 46 games in all competitions in 2018/19 for Eintracht Frankfurt, as they reached the semi final of the Europa League.
The Serbian found life difficult at the Santiago Bernabeu, and failed to settle in the Spanish capital.
Jovic completed a return to the German outfit last week after a troublesome 18 months at Los Blancos.
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And the striker wasted no time in finding his feet once again at his old club, scoring twice in the 3-1 win against Schalke.
He equalled the same tally of goals inside 28 minutes for Frankfurt that he managed in 32 games for Real Madrid.
Zidane responded to questions on Jovic’s problems in Spain, but insists he isn’t to blame for the striker’s struggles.
“Madrid is difficult, I’ve experienced it as a player, and what Luka has done is go and play,” said Zidane in his pre-game press conference ahead of their clash against Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey.
“I think it has been a good option to buy Luka and I am happy for him, and [I hope] for him to do the same one day in Madrid. But inside and outside [the club] it’s different.
“He has a future, and he can show it at Madrid and it’s the same for everyone. Here there is always a very strong competition, but the coach is not to blame.”
Jovic has re-joined Frankfurt on a six-month loan in order to gain more playing time. It’s unknown if the Germans have an option to keep Jovic upon the completion of the loan agreement.
The 23-year-old has five goals in 11 games for the Serbia national side.
