GARETH BALE will not quit Real Madrid but Zinedine Zidane simply “does not want to play him”, the Welshman’s agent has confirmed.
Bale, 31, was stuck on the bench for most of Real’s title-winning campaign.
Bale was pictured pretending to be asleep in the stands after yet again not making Zidane’s starting line-upCredit: Refer to Caption
He did not play a single minute of the club’s final seven games as they won LaLiga for a record 34th time.
Fans joked Bale was trying to injure team-mates by kicking their ankles after the win over Villarreal.
And Dimitar Berbatov slammed him for being “unprofessional” after he was pictured pretending to sleep in the stands and fooling around with makeshift binoculars.
But Bale’s longtime agent Jonathan Barnett insists the superstar is “going nowhere”.
Barnett is adamant Bale – who earns around £600,000 a week – will not leave on loan or a permanent transfer, despite interest from other clubs.
He is going nowhere.
Gareth Bale’s agent on his future
He told BBC Sport: “Gareth is fine. He has two years left on his contract.
“He likes living in Madrid and he is going nowhere.
“He is still as good as anyone else in the team. It’s up to Zinedine Zidane.
“Of course there’s been interest but there’s hardly a club in the world which can afford him.
“It’s a great loss that he’s not in the Real Madrid team at the moment but he will not leave.”
Barnett insists there is nothing personal between Zidane and Bale but the Frenchman just ‘does not want to play him’Credit: Rex Features
Zidane has previously said he and Bale are “united” and that his omission from the final game of the season against Leganes was a “technical decision”.
Barnett has labelled Zidane a “disgrace” in the past for saying that Bale – who has scored more than 100 goals for Real – leaving would be “best for everyone”.
But now he suggested there is nothing personal between them and that Bale not playing is just down to preference.
Barnett added: “Gareth is not looking to outlast Zinedine Zidane. Mr Zidane has been very successful.
“There’s no hatred. Mr Zidane just does not want to play him.
“Gareth trains every day and he trains well.”
And commenting on what the future holds for the ex-Spurs man, Barnett said: “He wants to play for Wales at Euro 2020.
“He always wants to play well for Wales.
“Gareth is one of the best players in the world. The best players do not go out on loan.”
Gareth Bale looks uncomfortable during Real Madrid title celebrations after Zinedine Zidane leaves him on the bench for title decider versus Villarreal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
