Real Madrid want to sign Raheem Sterling this summer, and Zinedine Zidane believes the Manchester City star could be tempted to leave the Etihad Stadium in search of European football.
City were dealt a two-year ban from the Champions League by UEFA this week, over broken Financial Fair Play rules.
Sterling has developed into one of the best players in world football, and has drawn attention from across Europe.
The 25-year-old has been a key part of Pep Guardiola’s time at City, and was heavily relied upon during the famous Centurions season two years ago.
Sterling has previously admitted that he would love to play abroad at some point in his career.
But after City’s apparent ban from the Champions League, Real Madrid believe that Sterling may fancy moving sooner than expect, according to The Sun.
The Los Blancos have been linked with a move for Sterling for a number of years, after his impressive rise to stardom.
City weren’t planning on letting the England international leave the Etihad any time soon.
They were already in talks over a new £450,000-a-week contract, despite Sterling already having three years left on his current deal.
He’s currently earning £300,000-a-week, and contract talks have been ongoing since November.
Zidane may see Sterling as a direct replacement for Gareth Bale, who almost left the Bernabeu last summer.
Both players play in a similar position, while Bale looks almost certain to finally leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
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