Gareth Bale has no plans to move an inch and will remain at Santiago Bernabeu until the end of his contract in 2022. Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has made the Wales star an outcast but the latter appeared unfazed by the manager's deliberate snub.
Bale was hardly visible in the season and spent most of his time riding the bench, a call believed made by Zidane. That has been the case in the last few games and the Real coach insisted that the winger's continued absence from his squad is a "technical decision."
Zidane dropped the 31-year-old from the remaining Real fixtures and the boss was from apologetic. Unsurprisingly, Bale made no efforts to shroud his frustration.
While his Real teammates are playing on the pitch, the former Tottenham star was seen doing antics on the bench. Metro reported that while Bale joined in when Los Blancos were celebrating their La Liga win, it was obvious that the forward's happiness was muted at best.
Bale also kept a noticeable distance while the rest of Real lifted Zidane to the air. It was as if the player gave credence to the perception that he is already an outsider.
However, leaving Bernabeu is not an option for the Real man that reportedly is most expensive under Zidane. According to Jonathan Barnett, Bale's agent, the Welshman is not leaving the Spanish club, not on a permanent transfer and load deal.
Barnett said there are offers on the table for his client but Bale will remain with Los Blancos no matter the plan by Zidane.
"Gareth is fine. He has two years left on his contract ... He likes living in Madrid and he is going nowhere," the agent told BBC.
Barnett acknowledged that Bale with Real could lead to the player missing out on playing minutes and lacking match fitness. But he insisted that his client is in top form and can compete with all the members of the Real roster on that aspect.
The Bale camp said the ball is now on Zidane's hand. The French manager, however, appeared not keen on working with Bale again. As the same report noted, the club boss had demanded from the Real board in 2018 to get the player out his way but was overruled, leading to his exit from the team.
Zidane returned shortly and wanted the same thing - he no longer views the winger figuring in Real's future. And that appeared to be what is taking place now, Bale wasting away from the sidelines.
Notwithstanding the prevailing situation, Barnett said Bale will continue with Los Blancos in the next two seasons. That should mean the player, even without playtime on the pitch, will receive his weekly wage of £600,000, thus costing Madrid some £35 million over 24 months.
