Zidane Hits Back Over Bale Row ...

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane yesterday hit back at comments by Jonathan Barnett, Gareth Bale’s agent, denying he showed any disrespect to the player.

As reported by BBC Sport, Zidane stated, “I haven’t shown a lack of respect towards anyone.”
”What I said the other day is that the club was working on Bale’s exit.

”I’ve always said the same thing: the players are the most important ones in all of this. Whenever there’s a player involved, I’ll always back them.”

Zidane, who returned to Real last season for a second stint as manager, was speaking before his side’s pre-season match against Arsenal, in which Bale’s 56th minute goal hauled Madrid back in to the game after the Londoners had taken a two-goal lead. The game finished level and was won by Real on pens (3-2).

”Gareth didn’t come on [against Bayern Munich] because he didn’t want to, and he said it was because the club was working on his exit,” said Zidane.

Bale has been linked with a number of clubs over the summer, including Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham, from whom he joined the Spanish giants in 2013 for a then world record £85m, and also with a move to the Chinese Super League.