Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos fears coach Zinedine Zidane is fighting for his future.

Diario Gol says Ramos can sense change is in the air and has confessed as much to confidants.

The defender is close to Zidane and eager for him to continue in charge, but he also knows how Real - and president Florentino Perez - works and can see trouble ahead for the Frenchman.

The crunch could come just before Christmas - December 23 - when Real meet Barcelona for the first El Clasico of the season. A defeat will heap pressure on Perez is act.

A midseason dismissal is unlikely, but Ramos has told friends he is concerned Zidane will walk away at season's end.