Real suffer in long hot summer

Euro 2016 and the special centenary edition of the Copa America will take their toll on Real Madrid this summer with 10 stars on international duty.

After a long season finishing with the triumphant Champions League win, the players headed off to France or America to take up their place within their national squads.

The USA competition ends on June 27 while the month-long tournament in France has only just kicked off so a good slice of the squad could be reporting late for pre-season training with the added problem that many of them could be in need of a rest.

Altogether, 10 star players are involved in summer campaigns - Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lucas Vazquez, Gareth Bale, Casemiro and James Rodriguez.

Their season kicks off on August 9 with the chance of winning their first title in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla, and La Liga starting two weeks later.

For various reasons, Zinedine Zidane does have seven international players left at his disposal.

Karim Benzema was left out of the France squad for non-footballing reasons, as he is alleged to be caught up in a sex-tape blackmail scandal involving fellow Frenchman Mathieu Valbuena.

Raphael Varane's thigh injury ruled him out of the Champions League final and the competition in France.

Marcelo Vieira would have been fit to join Brazil in America but he does not have a good relationship with the coach Dunga and was left off of the final list.

Danilo put his club before his country and took the chance to have an operation on his injured right ankle during the summer.

Keylor Navas also put Los Blancos first to have surgery on his Achilles tendon which has been troubling him all season.

Isco's condition and his lack of chances on the pitch have had the knock-on effect of being left at home.

Everyone assumed he would be picked for Spain after making it on to the initial list but Vicente del Bosque ruled him out of the final selection.

Dani Carvajal picked up an injury in the Milan final so missed out on a place with La Roja.