Real not quite ready to give up on Rodriguez

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane closed the exit door on Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez despite again leaving the 2014 World Cup's top scorer on the bench for Sunday's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.

Rodriguez has fallen down Real's pecking since Zidane took charge in January, with Madrid's latest sensation Marco Asensio joining the likes of Isco, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ahead of him for a place in a congested midfield.

But Zidane said Rodriguez will remain in the Spanish capital beyond the transfer deadline on Wednesday, with even the Premier League's cash-rich clubs unlikely to match the reported $90 million Real paid for him after the World Cup two years ago.