Complete with a flexed bicep emoji, Gareth Bale posted a seemingly encouraging fitness update to his 43.7 million followers on Instagram ahead of Tottenham’s final training session before an FA Cup match at Everton.
“Good session today,” Bale wrote.
Except it wasn’t.
According to Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, Bale was “not feeling comfortable” with an unspecified injury and informed club officials he wanted to work with the sports science department instead of traveling north to Goodison Park on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it is an obvious injury,” Mourinho said, adding that he was “surprised” by the latest fitness status of a fragile player who it’s increasingly clear he cannot rely on.