This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Real Madrid Manager Zinedine Zidane Warns Gareth Bale ¶
Published on August 1, 2019, at 3:46 PM EAT
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reminded Gareth Bale of his responsibilities as a player after photos emerged of the Welshman playing golf while his team lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Audi Cup.
According to El Confidencial, Bale was absent from the squad that lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Audi Cup in Germany, with his boss Zidane having confirmed that Bale was in fact unfit and stayed behind to train.
However, photos emerged of Bale allegedly enjoying a round of golf at the same time Real Madrid were said to be losing 1-0 to Spurs.
When asked about the Bale situation, Zidane said he would only know what the Welshman was up to once back in Madrid, but assumed his player must have tended to his duties before golfing.
"You are telling me something that has surely happened. I'm here with my players, and I'm not going to comment on that. I hope he trained there. We are here, thinking about the team," Zidane said.
He also said he was not going to get involved in Bale's personal life as long as he took care of his responsibilities.
"Well, we'll see when we get back. I will not prevent someone from doing something. He has to look after his responsibilities. We will see what he has done in Madrid. I will not get into his personal life. But I think he has done training," Zidane added.
Earlier, the Frenchman had admitted he thought it was best if Bale left the club; a comment that did not bode well with Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett, who branded Zidane a "disgrace".
Bale joined Real Madrid in 2013 for a then world record £85m fee and was on the verge of sealing a move to China in a deal that would see him earn an eye watering £1m-a-week.
