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    Real Madrid's Luka Jovic Says Zinedine Zidane 'Believes in Me' Amid Exit Rumours

    Gill Clark@@gillclarkyFeatured Columnist IIAugust 20, 2019

    ROME, ITALY - AUGUST 11: Luka Jovic of Real Madrid in action during the Pre Season Friendly match between AS Roma and Real Madrid at Olimpico Stadium on August 11, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
    Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

    Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has played down rumours he could leave Los Blancos on loan before the close of the transfer window and said manager Zinedine Zidane believes in him.

    The 21-year-old striker told Novosti (h/t Marca) that he is used to speculation over his future and is learning a lot under his new boss at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    "Stories like that [of me moving on loan] make me laugh, as the media will always engage in such stories. I have been used to all kinds of rumours since the beginning of my professional career. I have accepted the fact that they can always be there, and time will tell which ones are true. 

    "[Zidane] believes in me and his opinion hasn't changed during the time that we've been working together. I am learning from him day by day and I am very satisfied because he is, as a player and coach, one of the best in world football."

    SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 07: Luka Jovic (Real Madrid) speaks with head coach Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) during the pre-season friendly match between RB Salzburg and Real Madrid at Red Bull Arena on August 07, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by TF-I
    TF-Images/Getty Images

    Jovic joined Real Madrid in June from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt for a fee of €65 million plus add-ons, according to the Guardian.

    Real Madrid's Luka Jovic Says Zinedine Zidane 'Believes in Me' Amid Exit Rumours
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    The striker arrived after an eye-catching season in front of goal in Germany's top flight. Opta highlighted his goalscoring record for Adi Hutter's side:

    OptaJean @OptaJean

    30 - Luka Jovic 🇷🇸 has scored 30% of Eintracht Frankfurt's goals in Bundesliga this season (17/57), highest ratio among German top-flight players in 2018/19. Revelation. @Eintracht https://t.co/VLmni4uMvu

    The Serbia international also shone in the UEFA Europa League, helping Eintracht Frankfurt make it all the way to the semi-finals of the tournament:

    OptaJoe @OptaJoe

    10 - Luka Jovic has scored 10 goals in the Europa League this season; no player has netted more (level with Olivier Giroud). Clinical. https://t.co/74ibEdWcgw

    Yet he has already been linked with a temporary move away from Real Madrid despite his short time at the club.

    According to Marca (h/t Football Espana), newspapers in Serbia have suggested Zidane has not been impressed by Jovic in pre-season and could sanction a loan move.

    Meanwhile, Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) have reported that AC Milan could try to seal a late move for either Jovic or team-mate Mariano Diaz. The transfer window remains open around Europe until September 2.

    Sending Jovic straight out on loan would be a curious move given the form he showed last season and the investment Real Madrid made to bring him in.

    The striker's comments suggest he will stay at the club for the remainder of the season and try to force his way into Zidane's starting XI.