REAL MADRID star Gareth Bale has decided NOT to play in the crucial Champions League clash against Man City today.
The Welshman did not feature in any of Los Blancos’ final seven matches as they won La Liga.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has revealed Gareth Bale decided NOT to play against Man CityCredit: Reuters
Reports in Spain say the relationship between Bale and Zinedine Zidane is ‘ completely broken’ and the pair won’t even ‘look at each other’.
And a video today showed the winger playing golf after choosing not to join up with the squad.
Bale raised eyebrows last month with some bizarre celebrations as Real lifted the title.
Bale was left in Madrid for the trip to Manchester and French legend Zidane has claimed that it was the 31-year-old’s decision not to play – but refused to reveal anything else.
Zidane said: “It was a personal conversation I had with him. He preferred not to play.
Bale did not feature in any of the final seven games of Real Madrid’s title-winning campaignCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“The rest remains between me and him but he said he didn’t want to play.”
Zidane was pressed further on the matter but refused to elaborate.
“I answered before to explain the situation and I don’t want to add anything else,” he added.
“The rest is a private conversation between player and coach. There is nothing else to add.”
Asked if Bale had a future at Real, Zidane said: “I don’t know. Now he is a current player at Real Madrid.
“That has not changed. He is our player. I respect that and I respect him, like everyone else.
“He preferred not to play. That is the only thing I can tell you.
“The rest of us are all here, preparing for the game. The only thing we are concentrating on is the game.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk