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Zinedine Zidane: Guillem Balague reveals Gareth Bale transfer decision already made
ZINEDINE ZIDANE is set for a huge summer revamp at Real Madrid, and Guillem Balague has claimed that Gareth Bale’s future has already been decided.
Zinedine Zidane was named Real Madrid boss for the second time earlier this week as the club look set to end a disappointing season without a trophy.
Zidane won three Champions League titles and one La Liga trophy during his first spell as boss, and Gareth Bale was a key part of his success.
However, despite Bale’s heroics in last year’s Champions League triumph under Zidane, the Frenchman is allegedly keen to show the Welshman the exit door.
“Zinedine Zidane wanted [Gareth] Bale out [of the club] last summer and didn’t manage to get his way,” Football Index Ambassador Guillem Balague said.
“Now he’s back [as manager] and one of the things he got was more authority from the club to make decisions.
“He won’t be the only one making them but will be a part of those decisions.
“I think he will try to get Bale out of the club. They don’t get on, they have different personalities. They are water and oil. They are in the same place but not together.”
Bale has had a difficult season in the Spanish capital and has been the subject of jeers and whistles from his own supporters, despite notching his 100th goal for Los Blancos earlier in the campaign.
Perhaps Zidane felt that Bale wasn’t as passionate as he should be about the job
The former Tottenham forward will turn 30 this summer, but that is not the reason for Zidane wanting the player to leave.
Balague added: “Bale wanted somebody to look after him. Somebody to put an arm around his shoulder and say ‘you’re the best in the world, come on give me more’ but Zidane gave silence.
“This was at the end of a journey. Zidane was basically looking after Bale and Bale was giving him goals in important games. But it got to a point where perhaps Zidane felt that Bale wasn’t as passionate as he should be about the job.
“Wasn’t correcting things, wasn’t improving when put on the bench the few times he was and then more often in the last season. What we have seen here is a player who is disenchanted, disillusioned and deflated.”
Despite Balague’s claims, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has insisted that his client is “fine” with the manager’s return.
“Gareth wanted to play one way and Zidane wanted him to play another,” Barnett said via the BBC’s Football Daily podcast.
“Over the period of time it just got worse. He wants to play all his career for Real Madrid.
“If it doesn't work out, we will talk again.”