Gareth Bale is “very close to leaving” Real Madrid, according to boss Zinedine Zidane (BBC Sport).
Bale was left out of Real Madrid’s first pre-season friendly, a 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in Houston, yesterday, after which Zidane said, “We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to another team.”
Bale with three years left on his contract and four Champions’ League winners’ medals since joining Real from Tottenham for £85m in 2013, was booed at times last season but his agent Jonathan Barnett went on record in March stating Bale was very happy at the Bernabeu, and wished to complete his career there.