Real Madrid 'monitoring' Liverpool star Raheem Sterling
Real Madrid are monitoring Raheem Sterling’s situation at Liverpool, according to Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane, who is in charge of the European champions’ B team, says they are watching the England international who is stalling on signing a new contract.
“We know who Raheem Sterling is, and of course we are monitoring him as a player," Zidane said..
“There are very few players in the world who can improve the Real Madrid squad, so it is going to make sense we monitor the progress of the best young players in the world.
“We monitored (Gareth) Bale for over a year, the same with Isco and also (Raphael) Varane.
“We monitor many of the best young players in Europe, then if we feel they have something to offer Real Madrid we will contact their club and try and make the next step.”
Sterling caused controversy last week when he admitted turning down a recent £100,000-a-week contract offer but he remains tied to the Anfield club until the summer of 2017.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists Sterling is not for sale.
"Raheem has two and a half years left on his deal and he's not going anywhere in the summer," said Rodgers. "He's quite relaxed, as I am, and he just wants to focus on the rest of the season.
"Concentration, like I said a few weeks back, should be on his football and continuing his development. He's made great strides over the last couple of years and his only concentration should be the remaining games.
"The last time we sat down we discussed it, and that was the intentions of the player, his representatives and the club.
"Obviously Raheem has come out and made his feelings clear on that and hopefully his focus will be on the football now.”