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Zinedine Zidane Refuses to Condemn Gareth Bale for Golf Pictures (But May Never Pick Him Again)

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane refused to condemn Gareth Bale, who has seen a big money move to China fall through, after reports that the winger was playing golf on Tuesday night when while his teammates were playing a pre-season game against Tottenham in Munich.

Rather than travel to Germany, Bale stayed behind in Spain - Zidane later confirmed his absence was the result of a fitness issue. Fans might therefore have expected the Welshman to work on his fitness and keep a low profile, but El Confidencial snapped him playing golf (although granted, the suggestion is that Bale had trained and a long-lensed shot of a footballer on a golf course doesn't scream 'attention-seeking').