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Zidane not interested in new Real Madrid transfers

FILE PHOTO: Champions League - Round of 16 Second Leg - Manchester City v Real Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he does not want to sign any more players before the transfer window shuts, even after his side looked short on firepower in their 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in last week's season opener.

Real have been unusually quiet in the transfer window since winning La Liga in July, making no new signings despite parting ways with Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon. Their only new arrivals were Borja Mayoral, Alvaro Odriozola and Martin Odegaard who all returned from loan spells.

Madrid's squad was so light against Real Sociedad that Zidane brought on two players, Sergio Arribas and Marvin Park, who had never played for the first team and did not have Wikipedia pages before kickoff.

But speaking before Madrid's second game of the season away to Real Betis on Saturday, Zidane insisted he was happy with the players at his disposal.

"This is the squad I have and I won't ask for anyone else," said the Frenchman.

"Everyone wants to know who is going to come but I'm content with my squad. We're going to work hard to get in the right shape so we can achieve the objectives we have set ourselves.

"Anything could happen but right now like all other coaches I want the transfer window to shut as soon as possible, all we want to do is talk about matches."

Zidane did get a boost this week as wingers Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Eden Hazard all returned but he admitted the players were unlikely to feature against Betis because they have trained so little.

Madrid lost on their last visit to Betis 2-1 in March, just before the coronavirus pandemic caused global sport to shut down.

The Seville club, coached by former Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini, have made a 100% start to the new season, beating Alaves 1-0 and Real Valladolid 2-0.

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)