Fran voices Zizou concerns

Deportivo star Fran Gonzalez has admitted that Real Madrid signing Zinedine Zidane has dealt a body blow to his club’s title hopes next season.

Depor captain Fran said that the French star's arrival at the Bernabeu meant the Spanish champions "Are already halfway to the title."

The Spanish international told his website: "It was a bombshell. There's nobody like Zidane in the world and it's a real coup for Madrid. Any side would love to have him."

The 32-year-old confessed that the signing of Zidane, combined with new recruitment by Barcelona and Valencia, would leave Los Blanquiazules facing an uphill struggle next season.

"When you look at all their reinforcements, it's going to be really difficult for us to win the title or even finish runners-up."

"We have to take the season step-by-step and work hard to reach top form. We have to think of the team and not ourselves."