MADRID • If Spanish media reports are to be believed, Gareth Bale was named in a Real Madrid squad for the last time on Sunday.
But if that was to be the final time that the club-record signing, who moved from Tottenham for £85 million (S$149 million) in 2013, would pull on the famous white jersey, he was not even given the chance to say goodbye.
The Wales forward remained rooted to the bench for the entire game as Real delivered a suitably dreadful end to their miserable season, slumping to a 2-0 home loss to Real Betis.
Not that Bale appeared too concerned at not getting a parting run-out in front of a Santiago Bernabeu crowd that has jeered him all term.
According to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old was seen joking with teammate Toni Kroos on the bench and at the final whistle, he failed to acknowledge the fans nor Zinedine Zidane as he headed straight down the tunnel.
In his absence as the lightning rod for the Real faithful's ire, the home support turned their anger towards the other players on the field, who were whistled throughout, as the team ended their league campaign third in the standings on 68 points, their lowest tally since 2002, while suffering 12 defeats for the first time since 1999.
Afterwards, Zidane, whose much-heralded return as Real coach in March has yet to pay off, all but hinted at Bale's departure, saying: "No one can change what he has done for the team, but as a coach, I have to live in the present.
TEAM BEFORE PLAYER
I'm sorry, I didn't give Bale minutes today. But I don't know what's going to happen. If I think a player doesn't fit in the team, I have to do what I think works best.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE, on what may be Gareth Bale's last game for Real Madrid.
"I'm sorry, I didn't give Bale minutes today. But I don't know what's going to happen. If I think a player doesn't fit in the team, I have to do what I think works best."
Expressing his relief he could finally draw a line under their annus horribilis, he added: "The best thing for us is that it's over and we can think about next year. Because things will change, for sure.
"There are no excuses. It has been difficult from the start of the season and now at the end with me. That is the reality."
The Frenchman has promised there will be a squad overhaul in the summer and many have also been tipped to leave, including goalkeeper Keylor Navas, defenders Nacho and Sergio Reguilon, and midfielder Isco.
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon also thinks Bale is on borrowed time, saying "it is a relationship that will come to an end".
The Spaniard told BBC Sport Wales: "Zidane is not keen on him. It seems it was his last game. It is impossible for him to be here because of the coach and the fans. They think he is not committed and that is a problem. The best thing for him is to move. He should take the opportunity if there is one."
And former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp feels Manchester United should offer Bale an end to his Real hell. The Englishman told the Daily Mail that despite the Red Devils being equally mired in mediocrity with their failure to qualify for the Champions League, "he can turn any club around".
He added: "Whoever signs him will be signing a fantastic player. Manchester United could do with Gareth Bale."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale came off the bench and coolly converted a controversial penalty to secure a 2-1 win at Levante in La Liga on Sunday as the European champions rode their luck to stay
Moise Kean came off the bench to claim a late winner and put Juventus on the brink of clinching the Serie A title. If Napoli lose at home to Genoa on Sunday, Juve will be Italian champions for an
Moise Kean Winner Puts Juventus On Brink Of Serie A Title
Birmingham hit with nine-point deduction after breaching financial rules Posted on March 22, 2019 by yasir kaneria in Football , Sports The Championship side broke the EFL's profitability and sustainability regulations and faced a possible 12-point deduction and a transfer ban.
Birmingham hit with nine-point deduction - Football Paradise
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 14, 2019, with the headline 'Coach tells Zaniolo to stay focused despite brace'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Coach tells Zaniolo to stay focused despite brace
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Pep Guardiola wants the pain of Manchester City's gut-wrenching Champions League elimination at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur to inspire a charge for an unprecedented domestic treble. Guardiola's side take on Spurs at the Etihad Stadium again on Saturday after
Football: Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on
Pep Guardiola dismisses Jurgen Klopp's claim that Man City have no weaknesses Guardiola's City and Klopp's Liverpool appear increasingly to be the two main contenders in the title race, as
Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City have no
GOLTV is a Soccer focused Cable network which serves both the English and Spanish speaking soccer fans in the United States. GolTV USA - Solskjaer aims to replicate spirit of '99 at Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to replicate the spirit of Manchester United's treble-winners at Old Trafford as he plots a route back to the top for
Atletico Madrid moved level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after Antoine Griezmann's second-half penalty was enough to see off Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday. Griezmann smashed home from the spot 10 minutes after the break to give Diego Simeone's side three points from a hard-fought match with mid-table Espanyol that extends Atletico
Griezmann Fires Atletico Level With Barcelona - Channels
Valencia eased into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spaniards Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a resounding 5-1
Valencia stroll into last four with 2-0 Villarreal win
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with
PDF | This article shows how accounting and rugby have been used as tools of control. It compares the role of accounting in amateur and professional sport, initially analysing the Fiji Rugby Union
Speed dating
Over the last 23 years, Chelsea have consistently signed big-name players on their way to four Premier League titles. Sportsmail looks at the 10 best and 10 worst of a big-spending era in blue.
Need to translate "axe" to Spanish? Here are 4 ways to say it. How to say axe in Spanish What's the Spanish word for axe? Here's a list of translations. Spanish
Axe in Spanish | English to Spanish Translation - SpanishDict
Almoez Ali scored with a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the Asian Cup to set Qatar on their way to a first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions
Sport Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan to win first Asian Cup
Football: Iran coach Carlos Queiroz set for Colombia switch
0 comments:
Post a Comment