Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is keeping coy over the future of winger James Rodriguez, who has been linked with a whole host of clubs this summer, including Manchester United and West Ham.
Rodriguez has struggled to nail down a regular spot at the Bernabeu and with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all expected to get the nod week in, week out, the Colombian has been tipped for the exit door.
But Zidane rates Rodriguez and has kept his cards close to his chest on whether he would be willing to sell someone he still rates as "important".
"The idea remains the same. He's a Real Madrid player and he'll be back with us on 26th July, along with [Sergio] Ramos and [Luka] Modric", the Real Madrid coach told a press conference in Montreal.
"I'll speak to him, but just as I do with all of the other players. I'm not going to go saying that he's not a starter, he's an important player and one who has had less playing time, but that's not the way I see things", Zidane continued.
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"Whenever he was available to play, I played him and it'll be the same again this season. I've got a very big squad and it's tough to name your team. I'll always field the most competitive side."
Rodriguez managed only 26 appearances in La Liga last season and just 32 in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing his team-mates with ten assists.
He was on the bench for the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, while he only clocked up 23 minutes of both legs of Real Madrid's semi-final tie against Manchester City.
