{"id":1089732,"date":"2019-05-19T18:05:04","date_gmt":"2019-05-19T17:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1089732"},"modified":"2019-05-19T17:36:17","modified_gmt":"2019-05-19T16:36:17","slug":"zidane-bale-substitution-snub","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/zidane-bale-substitution-snub\/","title":{"rendered":"Zidane defends Bale substitution decision: “I must think of the future”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has intimated that Gareth Bale is no longer part of his plans.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 29-year-old Welsh forward was an unused substitute in Real’s final game of the season, a 0-2 home defeat against Real Betis, fuelling even more speculation his time in the Spanish capital is coming to an end.<\/p>\n

Bale’s time at Real Madrid: Five things to know\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then world record fee of \u00a385.3m.<\/li>\n
  2. He’s since gone on to make 231 appearances for Los Blancos, registering 102 goals and 64 assists.<\/li>\n
  3. Bale, though, has been sidelined for a total of 350 days \u2013 missing a total of 74 matches \u2013 due to injuries.<\/li>\n
  4. Nevertheless, he’s played a pivotal role in four Champions League triumphs.<\/li>\n
  5. His present deal expires in June 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7259525-if-guardiola-s-to-be-believed-liverpool-lost-the-league-with-one-result<\/p>\n

    Bale was heavily associated with a move away from the Bernab\u00e9u last summer, after losing his automatic pick status under Zidane, with long-time admirers Manchester United touted as a potential destination.<\/p>\n

    Zidane’s surprise departure was seen as a reprieve for Bale who remained in Madrid, but the relationship between him and the club’s supporters began to wane.<\/p>\n

    A string of indifferent performances saw the ex-Spurs winger become a scapegoat for Real’s failings this season.<\/p>\n

    He has been continually jeered and, since Zidane’s surprising return to the club, slowly phased out of the first-team picture. Now more than ever, a summer transfer seems likely.<\/p>\n

    Real Madrid’s last match of 2018\/19 saw Keylor Navas start in goal and Bale was named on the bench, but did not feature in what could be his final game in the Spanish capital.<\/p>\n

    Zidane has stopped short of declaring Bale will leave this summer, but suggested he is no longer a good fit for Los Blancos.<\/p>\n