Real Madrid transfer news: Gareth Bale situation is a ‘soap opera’, claims former president Ramon Calderon

The Welsh star has three years left on his contract but is seemingly not in Zinedine Zidane’s plans

Jack Rathborn
Wednesday 22 May 2019 06:44 EDT
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Ryan Giggs says criticism of Gareth Bale comes with the territory at Real Madrid

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Gareth Bale’s situation at Real Madrid is like a “soap opera” without a known ending.

The Welsh forward was an unused substitute in the final match of the season: a 2-0 loss to Real Betis at the Bernabeu.

And Zinedine Zidane appears to have decided against including the £85.3m signing from Tottenham in his future plans as he bids to revamp a faded squad in the capital.

Former president Ramon Calderon has bemoaned the situation that Bale finds himself in, six years after his arrival.

“Nobody knows how the soap opera is going to end because president (Florentino Perez) and coach (Zidane) have different opinions in criteria,” Calderon said.

“[Bale] is his highest signing ever and he (Perez) doesn’t want to accept that he was wrong when he thought that Gareth Bale could be the leader of this team when Cristiano left.

“Zidane left it clear, and he did last year, when he decided to resign because the president didn’t accept his decisions.

“I think it is a bit unfair. He has been having many problems with injuries so he couldn’t play regularly.

“He also hasn’t learned any single word in Spanish. That hasn’t given him the opportunity to give any interview and to get in touch with the fans.

Zinedine Zidane has hinted that Gareth Bale is not part of his future Real Madrid plans
Zinedine Zidane has hinted that Gareth Bale is not part of his future Real Madrid plans (Reuters)

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