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Zinedine Zidane Is On The Hunt For A 'Rat' In The Real Dressing Room

Zinedine Zidane Is On The Hunt For A 'Rat' In The Real Dressing Room

The Real boss is no doubt livid...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Zinedine Zidane is reportedly on the prowl for a mole in the Real Madrid dressing room.

According to reports in Spain, namely from SPORT and ABC.es, the opposition have got wind of his starting XI before it has been officially announced on more than one occasion and he's out to find out whether someone from his squad has been leaking the information.

The two main games in question are the 3-0 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, as well as the Champions League last 16 tie against PSG - with opposition managers knowing the line-up as many as five hours before kick-off.

It's said that Ernesto Valverde was aware of Isco being on the bench and Mateo Kovacic starting at the Bernabeu in December and therefore had more time to prepare his tactics, while Unai Emery knew Isco was starting the first leg in addition to finding out that Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez were being brought in for the second leg at the Parc des Princes.

Apparently, Zidane lets his players know the team two hours prior to the first full whistle and he feels the "rat" is guilty of betrayal.

It's a repeat scenario of the situation which happened under Jose Mourinho when he was at the helm at Los Blancos. According to former goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who wrote about the whole fiasco in his book.

He says that after it emerged Pepe was going to play in midfield against Barcelona, the Portuguese manager was livid and blamed midfielder Esteban Granero.

However, he then attached the blame to Real legend Iker Casillas in a move that seriously damaged their relationship.

Image: Real Madrid
Image: Real Madrid

Goalkeeper Adan, who was at the club for nine years, said the dressing room suffered as a result.

"The coach stormed into the changing room in a mad rage and kicked a bottle," he told COPE, via Joe.co.uk.

"He went completely nuts. He started asking each one of us who the rat was.

"He [Mourinho] just kept his mouth shut and didn't say anything, like the rest of us. The atmosphere in the changing room was never quite the same after that."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Jose Mourinho, Football, Zinedine Zidane, Iker Casillas, Real Madrid, La Liga