Zinedine Zidane has revealed why he subbed Cristiano Ronaldo during Real Madrid's 2-2 draw with Levante - and it wasn't to give him a rest.

The Frenchman removed the five time Ballon d'Or winner immediately after Isco struck in the 81st minute to restore Madrid's lead against struggling Levante.

But Italian substitute Giampaolo Pazzini piled on fresh misery for Los Blancos with an 89th minute equaliser on his home debut, which Zidane admitted left him "disgusted" after the final whistle.

Ronaldo appeared visibly furious as he left the pitch to be replaced by Marco Asensio and hit out at pitch-side photographers focusing on him in the dugout,

He said to them: "Don't film me, focus on the game!"

The decision to remove him has raised eyebrows as Real now languish 18 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, which could widen followers the leaders visit to Espanyol in the Catalan derby.

Zidane insisted the move was premeditated refuting any fitness-related reasons the Portuguese star was replaced. “We had the game under control, the most difficult is to score goals. We got to 2-1, but in the end, two mistakes cost us the two goals.

“This year is being difficult for us. We cannot put three or four results together. I am not happy with the result. We were in control of the game, above all the first half, so not happy, of course." Earlier this month, it was reported Real Madrid have decided to part ways with Zidane at the end of the season with German World Cup winning manager Joachim Low in line to replace him.

Talks are said to be underway with Low after Real Madrid President Florentino Perez decided to wield the axe.
Real Madrid have made a woeful defence of their La Liga title this season unable to get to close to Barcelona at the top of the table.

Zidane was appointed Real Madrid boss in 2016 and has won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup twice along with his La Liga championship.

As a player, Zidane made 155 appearances for Real, scoring 37 goals.