Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane cools talk of Cesc Fabregas joining Los Blancos

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted a deal for Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is "not very straightforward". The Spaniard has been linked with a move to Los Blancos this summer, but Zidane has appeared to cool the speculation.

Fabregas, 29, was not included in Antonio Conte's team for his first competitive match in charge of Chelsea, prompting speculation he does not feature in the new manager's long-term plans. Real have been strongly linked with Fabregas in recent days, but Zidane confessed it would be difficult to shoehorn the Spaniard into Real's star-studded midfield, which already features Luke Modric and Toni Kroos.

"If you want to put another central midfielder into the mix then it becomes complicated," Zidane said of the Chelsea player, according to ESPN. "Cesc is a great player but it is not very straightforward. I am going to end up with a squad where three or four players do not get selected. To therefore put another player in there makes it difficult."

Meanwhile, Conte has also rubbished speculation linking Fabregas with a transfer away from Chelsea. "Cesc is Chelsea's player, and I'm happy about him, with his attitude and behaviour," he said following Chelsea's 2-1 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League, according to Sky Sports. "He must know from before that when we are a great team like Chelsea it can happen that I have to take a decision before the game to choose a starting XI.

"That can happen that Fabregas is not in the starting XI, but it can happen for all the players. It's important to see always the right attitude. Because we must fight this season and it's important to stay together in every situation."

Conte admitted Fabregas could easily be restored to the Chelsea team for their next game against Watford on Saturday (20 August). "Now I took this decision but the next game I can change or not," Conte shared. "When a coach takes this decision there is always a reason but I prefer to keep this to myself. But I repeat I don't see any problem and I'm very happy to have these players, to train these players."