Zinedine Zidane was ready to leave Real Madrid in February, it has been revealed.

Marca says in February, Florentino Perez and Jose Angel Sanchez managed to change his mind once when, after their shock Copa del Rey defeat against Leganes, he told them that he didn't have the strength to continue in his role.

They managed to talk him down and sway him into remaining, which proved a wise decision as he led the club to another Champions League title.

On the last day of May, they didn't manage to repeat February's success in convincing him to remain and Zidane said goodbye at a press conference the next day.

He was exhausted by the role at that point and believed, and continues to maintain, that his decision was the best one for the club and the players.