Zidane backs Rodriguez

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes Jese Rodriguez rediscovers the form that once made him the star of Madrid's academy, but only after his return to the Santiago Bernabeu with Las Palmas on Wednesday.

Jese left Madrid for French champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal in August for a reported 25 million euros ($26.8 million).

However, he scored just twice in 14 appearances and quickly fell down the pecking order for PSG's Spanish coach Unai Emery before joining home town club Las Palmas on loan in January.

"I like him a lot as a player and a person, and I hope that from Thursday it goes well for him at Las Palmas," Zidane said on Tuesday.

When the Canary Islanders pushed the boat out to bring the 24-year-old forward back to La Liga at the end of January, qualifying for Europe was the aim.