Zidane: Bale

By Max Wise

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane says Welsh winger Gareth Bale’s future at the European Champions will be decided at the end of the season.

Bale is rumored to be seeking a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs all after the record goalscorer for the Wales national team.

The relationship between Bale and Zidane, who returned to the Bernabeu last month after resigning before the start of this season, is reportedly not the best, but the Welshman has now completed the full 90 minutes in each of Zidane’s first two games in charge.

Zidane commented on Bale's future before leading Los Blancos to beat Huesca 3-2 at home and said the club was yet to decide on the latter's future though he acknowledged the 29-year-old as one of the important players of the side.

“Gareth is an important member of the squad,” Zidane said.

“We know what he has done here, even in Champions League finals.

“Nobody can take away what he has done. We know he can bring a lot to the team, and we will count on him.

“We are going to play these 10 games [the last 10 of the season], and then we will see. That does not mean that, afterwards, there will be changes.”

The former Southampton youngster joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspurs in August 2013 for a then-record fee of €100m, but after winning four Champions League trophies, one LaLiga and scoring over 100 goals for the club, the Madridistas have still not taken to Bale.

Bale has played 23 times in LaLiga this season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.