Heading to the match against Eibar on Sunday, Real Madrid star Gareth Bale was a picture of rejuvenation and his teammates reportedly attested that the Welshman was inspired to play and win. But club boss Zinedine Zidane benched the former Tottenham man, thus reigniting the long-running hostility between the two and keeping from shining.
Bale did see some minutes on the pitch, but when he was fielded in the second half of the match, there was nothing to be squeezed from Wales. His disappointment on not making the first-team was so apparent that the forward hardly mattered.
Marca reported that Zidane sent out a strong message to Bale's way, and it only heightened how the boss and the player are not working, which is true on and off the pitch. This has been the case since the Frenchman took charged of Bernabeu. They don't speak the same language that resulted in a breakdown of communication.
Gradually, Bale felt out of favor, and the success he found with Los Blancos seemed to have been forgotten. As far as the Spanish giants are concerned, the Wales remains a potent weapon in the quest to win titles, but the club is aware of the fact that Bale and Zidane cannot go together.
"They also know that his relationship with Zidane is beyond saving," added the report.
Bale's camp tried to bolt out of Bernabeu last summer, but Real prevented him from joining the Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning. So with two years more to go on his deal with the Spaniards, the winger has to deal with working for a man that appeared uninspired by his football skills.
The Sun said options for the troubled 30-year-old seemed limited at the moment. It's unclear if the Chinese side is interested in Bale, and if that is not on the cards, Wales is said to be considering an MLS career in the United States.
Truth to be told, the offers are not too tempting for the Real outcast, but his agent had floated the idea that a path is likely to open for Bale to play again in the Premier League.
Jonathan Barnett said his client is open to bringing his game back to England but noted that life in Spain would make it hard for Bale to leave.
"To come back and play [in England] would be a big thing but I don't think he wants to do that at the moment as he's quite happy to play at Real Madrid," Barnett was reported as saying.
He hinted, however, that an offer that could give financial security could prod Bale to seriously consider.
