Published on 12:00 AM, August 29, 2016

James will stay: Zidane

Real Madrid's new French coach Zinedine Zidane gestures before the Spanish league football match. File Photo: AFP

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane closed the exit door on Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez despite leaving him on the bench once more for Real's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

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

However, Zidane insisted Rodriguez will remain with even the Premier League's clubs unlikely to match the reported 80 million euros Real paid for him after the World Cup two years ago.

“I thought James played well. It is not easy to come and have to make the difference," said Zidane. "He is going to stay here."