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Zinedine Zidane ‘hopes’ Gareth Bale will leave Real Madrid soon

Sport360 staff

09:51 21/07/2019

Zinedine Zidane ‘hopes’ that Gareth Bale will be out of the exit door sooner rather than later, having revealed Real Madrid are busy trying to secure him a move away from the club.

The Wales star did not feature in Madrid’s opening preseason game against Bayern Munich, with Los Blancos falling to a 3-1 defeat in Houston.

Bale had seen any remaining influence at the club evaporate once Zidane was re-appointed as manager in March, but this is the first time that the Frenchman has been so open about the player’s future.

Though Zidane stresses his decision is not personal, the end is nigh at the Bernabeu for a forward who only last year was named man-of-the-match against Liverpool as Real won the Champions League trophy for a third time in a row.

“Bale did not play because he is very close to leaving,” Zidane said, per ESPN. “We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team.

“I have nothing personal against him, but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done, I have to make decisions. We have to change.

“The exit is the coach’s decision, and also of the player, who knows the situation.

“The situation will change, I do not know if in 24 or 48 hours, but it will, and it’s a good thing for everyone.”

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