“He needs time” – Real Madrid legend defends Luka Jovic’s slow start at the Bernabeu

Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado has called for fans to give Luka Jovic time after his slow start at the club.

The Serbia international made a £57.7m move to the Bernabeu from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over the summer but is yet to score a goal for Zinedine Zidane’s side.

How much has Jovic struggled at Real? Five things to know…

• Jovic scored 27 goals on loan at Frankfurt from Benfica last season.
• He then made that loan permanent before immediately moving to Real Madrid in the summer.
• But Jovic is yet to score in seven games so far for Los Blancos.
• He has come under scrutiny by many fans and members of the media for his bad form.
• But Salgado insists Jovic is a “great player” and simply needs time to adjust.

Jovic scored 27 goals during 2018/19 and Salgado – who won four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during his playing days with Real – believes this sort of form shows just how much quality the striker really has.

“He’s a young player. If Real Madrid signed him, it’s due to something. He has been a great player for Eintracht Frankfurt, lots of goals, great attacking quality,” Salgado told Omnisport.

“It is known that Real Madrid needed a ‘nine’, a striker. Benzema is a different ‘nine’, a player that collects, combines over finishing.

“Jovic must still learn, he’s a young player and Real Madrid is a team with a lot of pressure. He needs time. He has that time, we know he’s a great striker.”

Los Blancos sit top of La Liga after making an unbeaten start to the season but have struggled once again in the Champions League so far.

As a result, Zidane has come under criticism, especially following Real’s 3-0 humiliation to PSG in September.

But Salgado believes the Frenchman “deserves respect”, insisting fans must remain calm while Zidane puts things right.

“There’s always critics at Real Madrid. A club that depends on victories, a gigantic club, with a lot of pressure” Salgado said. “But I think the last two scores have calmed the team.

“Zidane deserves all our respect, he won three Champions Leagues in a row. Something that no one has achieved in history, now arriving into Madrid in a difficult position from last year.

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“The season just started, and they climb into the first position. We’ve got to let them work. I know Real Madrid, I have been there almost 11 years. I know how it works and it’s important that the manager and the players are calm in a moment like this.

“As I said, being leaders brought calm to the team and the team will grow a lot from now on. Zidane deserves the confidence from us, supporters. I think he’s doing a great job.”