According to reports from Mirror Football yesterday evening, World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane – now working as Carlo Ancelotti’s right hand man at Real Madrid – has declared Wales international Gareth Bale won’t be up for sale this summer.
The Bernabeu giants paid Tottenham a record-breaking £87million fee to sign the winger in 2013 and he’s since gone on to claim 39 goals in 85 appearances for Los Blancos, in addition to lifting the Champions League title with them last summer.
The Real support have grown frustrated with some aspects of the 25 year-old’s game, however – some even attacking his car in the club’s car park after a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in March, as reported by us at This Is Futbol.
Resultantly, many tabloids have mooted a return to the Premier League this summer, listing the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United as his potential suitors – as reported by The Guardian last month.
But Zidane has now insisted Bale won’t be on the market this summer, telling reporters; “Real Madrid buy the best players in the world, they don’t sell them. Of course other clubs will be interested in him, he would improve any squad in the world.
“But the president has said he is not for sale – and that is because he is not for sale. That will be the answer to Manchester United or any other club that asks the question.
“He was a big part of our success last season especially in the Champions League, and as we look to defend our title I am sure he will play a successful part again,” he added.