• Home
• /
• Sports
• /
• Football

I have not 'disrespected' Bale, says Zidane

Washington - Bale did not play for Real in their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said he had not "disrespected" Gareth Bale and it was the club who wanted to sell the Welsh forward, not him personally.
Bale did not play for Real in their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup on Saturday, with Zidane revealing his absence was due to the club "working on his departure".
Bale's agent labelled Zidane a "disgrace" but the Frenchman defended his conduct ahead of Real Madrid's pre-season clash with Arsenal in Washington D.C.
"At times my Spanish is very suspect," Zidane told reporters. "I want to be very clear about this. Firstly, I have not disrespected anybody."
Speaking to reporters on the eve of Real Madrid's friendly with Arsenal at FedEx Field - home of the NFL's Washington Redskins - Zidane said it was Bale who chose not to play in Madrid's 3-1 friendly defeat to Bayern in Houston on Saturday.
"I did not disrespect anyone, least of all Gareth," a frustrated-sounding Zidane said. "I said that the club is working to facilitate Bale's departure, nothing more.
"The other day, Gareth did not dress for the game, he did not want to because the club was negotiating his departure," he added.
"I have always said the same, the players are the most important and every time I am with a player here I will be with them always.
"Second thing, I said the club is trying to sell him. Third point, I think it is very important and crucial to say that the other day Gareth did not change (play) because he did not want to.
"He will train with us today. He will train with the squad today but tomorrow is tomorrow.
"Gareth is a Real Madrid player. That is the most important thing, he is a player for the squad." Bale, 30, has won four Champions League titles since joining Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then world record 100 million euros (£89.77 million) but he struggled to hold down his place in the starting side last season.
Meanwhile, Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett said the player will not be leaving Real Madrid on loan during the transfer window. "There will be no makeshift deals to get him out of the club," said Barnett, who said previously that Zidane has shown "no respect" for Bale's achievements at Real.