They said he would be better than Solano, but Zinedine Zidane revealed why Benavente did not succeed

Zinedine Zidane is currently not managing any club or team, since leaving Real Madrid. Before joining the first team in 2016, Zizou coached Real Madrid Castilla, a team that was in the third division of Spain and included our compatriot Cristian Benavente.

At that time, the 49-year-old former French coach stated that he asked "Lad" to stay at Castilla as a way to get into the first team sooner or later. In an interview with the Peruvian media América Deportes he said the following: "I spoke with him at the beginning of the season to tell him to stay because he is an interesting player and he also had a good year. The problem is that we were not able to move up a category."

Furthermore, at that time Benavente was a real boom in Peru and many fans were clamoring for him for his great performances abroad. It was so much so that at some point they nicknamed him the new Nolberto Solano of the "Blanquirroja".

Zidane spoke about Benavente not being called up to the Copa América, Zinedine also gave his opinion about Benavente not being called up to the 2015 Copa América in Chile. "Yes, he plays for a Third (division) team. The one who makes the decision "He is the coach and we have to respect him, but it doesn't mean anything about the player Cristian is," giving more prominence to the figure of the Peruvian winger at that time.

In that edition of the Cup, Peru came in third place after beating Paraguay and perhaps Cristian could be part of that good team that Ricardo Gareca led to make history in Mapocha lands. He even fell one goal short of the feat against Chile in the semifinals.