Five key questions facing Real Madrid ahead of next season

Considering 2016-17 was Real Madrid's best season in over half a century, the initial plan was for a few gentle tweaks to Zinedine Zidane's squad as they enjoyed a longer summer break than usual due to the lack of a major international competition this year.

However, things rarely go completely smoothly around the Santiago Bernabeu, so Zidane and club chief Florentino Perez have these five things to sort out before the 2017-18 campaign kicks off.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo's tax issue still to be resolved

The storm that materialised in June after Cristiano Ronaldo let it be known that he wanted to leave Spain in reaction to being called to a Madrid court to answer allegations of a €14.7 million tax fraud has quieted lately. But the issue has not yet been resolved, and will still require careful management in the boardroom by Perez and dressing room by Zidane.

The leaks and hints from Ronaldo's camp have been fewer and quieter recently, although it was made clear that last week's boarding of the superstar's yacht by customs agents was a further provocation by the Spanish authorities, a sign that the situation remains super sensitive.

Experts with knowledge of the legal details of the case are clear that the only way to resolve the situation -- and for Ronaldo to avoid jail time -- is to accept wrongdoing and pay about €50m in back taxes and fines.

Where this money comes from -- Ronaldo himself, a new Madrid contract, or a signing-on fee elsewhere -- is now a burning question. How the notoriously difficult to impress Bernabeu reacts when/if Ronaldo next pulls on a Madrid shirt will also be interesting to see.

2. What to do about Alvaro Morata

Until recently it looked certain that Alvaro Morata would leave Madrid this summer in search of more regular football, with Madrid's hierarchy expecting to receive €85m or so in exchange which could then be reinvested immediately or saved for long-time targets like David De Gea or Kylian Mbappe.

Zinedine Zidane would be pleased to see Alvaro Morata, Madrid's second-leading goalscorer, return to the Bernabeu.

Manchester United switching at the last minute to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton, and Chelsea seemingly unable to resolve their Diego Costa problem, means that Morata (unlike James Rodriguez) had to fly out to the U.S. with the team for preseason.

Milan are the latest suitor to emerge for the former Juventus striker, but it is still unclear if the San Siro outfit will meet Madrid's asking price. Zidane seems to be quite happy if Morata does end up staying, as many of those 20 goals were very useful last season. Should Morata leave, the squad will also look a senior striker shy -- meaning Mbappe might be needed sooner than hoped.

3. Dealing with testing preseason schedule

Madrid's busy International Champions Cup schedule sees them face Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona inside a week in three different U.S. cities -- followed by a game against the MLS All-Stars in Chicago on Aug. 2.

Then it's straight back to Europe for the Aug. 8 UEFA Supercup clash with United again, and two Spanish Supercopa "Clasicos" versus Barca to fit in before the La Liga season gets going.

This will mean Zidane has to juggle his playing resources, especially with the squad undergoing a punishingly physical preseason at UCLA under fitness coach Antonio "The Whip" Pintus.

Push senior stars with many miles on the tires like Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos or Gareth Bale too far too early, and Zidane might pay for it further down the line. Eight youth teamers made the trip to the U.S. to help meet all these commitments, and some might just get a chance to make an impression in the coming weeks.

4. Deciding what to do with the under-21s

Madrid's summer incorporations so far have been all youngsters -- with France underage defender Theo Hernandez taken from neighbours Atletico Madrid, emerging playmaker Dani Ceballos signed from Real Betis, and Ceballos' Spain U21 teammates Jesus Vallejo, Borja Mayoral and Marcos Llorente all returning to the Bernabeu following loan spells last season.

Theo and Ceballos are clearly set for the first-team squad next season, as is Vallejo who was given a formal presentation at the Bernabeu with Perez earlier this month. But Mayoral and Llorente's situations are less certain at the moment, and both will be keen to impress Zidane when they join up with the squad in Los Angeles on July 21.

Some might even follow the example set last season by Marco Asensio, who 12 months ago was returning from loan at Espanyol and unsure of his future. The winger stood out so much in preseason that Zidane handed him a starting place for the European Supercup against Sevilla last August, and the Mallorcan then ended the campaign scoring in the Champions League final.

Bringing through these youngsters could also bring knock-on repercussions for lesser-sung squad members Danilo and Mateo Kovacic -- with local media speculation suggesting one or both could be sold by the end of the window to leave space for locally produced youngsters to shine.

Will Zidane choose the power of Gareth Bale or the playmaking prowess of Isco?

5. Isco vs. Bale will pop up again

Gareth Bale's injury-hampered 2016-17 season allowed for the emergence of playmaker Isco as a key member of the starting XI. The subsequent change from the "BBC" front three including Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, to a 4-4-2 team shape with Isco at the tip of a midfield diamond was one of the key factors in the team's superb double-winning end to the campaign.

Following a summer rest, Bale says he is now fighting fit and eager to win back his first-team place, which means Zidane faces the same dilemma again. The Wales international offers power and pace which their counterattack otherwise lacks, especially with Ronaldo now mostly a penalty-box specialist. But Isco brings a balance to the team's midfield which helps them dominate games by keeping the ball, and is especially useful in tight matches against other big rivals.

Both systems are likely to be used during the preseason, with Asensio, Morata, Mayoral and Lucas Vazquez also getting runs. But local pundits will be especially keen to see Zidane's XI for the Clasicos against Barca in mid-August assuming everybody is back fit and available.