Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has spoken out in support of Gareth Bale's quality, despite the Wales international being regularly linked with a move away from the club in the summer.
Bale's days at the Santiago Bernabeu appeared to be numbered ahead of the campaign when manager Zinedine Zidane said during pre-season that "we hope he leaves soon." A proposed transfer to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning looked like the Welshman's route away from Madrid, although the deal collapsed.
Speaking about his team-mate, Ramos talked up Bale's importance for the upcoming season and dismissed any notion that the forward's interest in golf is an issue, per Amitai Winehouse of the MailOnline:
"I think Bale's a great player, and he's been really important for the club in the years he's been with us.