Gareth Bale ready to take out Real Madrid anger on Slovakia in Wales’ crucial Euro 2020 qualifier
GARETH BALE is vowing to take out his Real Madrid anger on Slovakia tonight.
The Welsh hero, 30, has seen fresh speculation about his future at the Bernabeu this week.
Reports from Spain suggested he is “angry” and “fed-up” after the Spanish giants pulled the plug on a lucrative summer move to China.
He was also a surprise absentee for last week’s 2-2 Champions League draw at home to Brugge — as his problems with Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane continue.
Sources close to the former Tottenham man say it is unlikely he will move in January.
Bale admits it is an emotional time — and he now has the chance to harness that and help Wales take a big step towards Euro 2020 in Bratislava tonight.
Bale said: “You play with a lot of emotion.
‘MASSIVE GAME’
“Anger comes into it, of course — I’m just trying to play football and enjoy it as much as I can.
“I haven’t got anything to clear my mind about. I love meeting up with Wales, everybody knows that.
“It’s something I’ve always loved doing. We’ve a chance to qualify for the Euros and this is a massive game.
“We want to get three points and put ourselves right back in the mix.”
Bale scored his first international goal against Slovakia in 2006 and was also netted when the Dragons beat the same opponent at when these nations met at Euro 2016.
Wales are fourth in Group E and Bale admits tonight’s clash is more or less make or break.
He said: “We understand the situation, we know what we need to do.”
Wales boss Ryan Giggs is hoping his star man can blot out his club issues to help the injury-hit nation.
Giggs said: “I was surprised with what happened in the summer — I think everyone from the outside thought it was a bit strange.
“But it seems like everything on that has gone a bit quiet now.”
Wales are again without key man Aaron Ramsey who reported for duty earlier this week with a thigh injury and could also miss Sunday’s clash with Croatia in Cardiff.
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Midfielder Tom Lawrence needs a fitness check on a dead leg but Giggs says he is in the right frame of mind despite a drink-driving charge hanging over him.
The Derby man will go before magistrates on Tuesday.
But his Wales boss said: “In terms of frame of mind, Tom is fine.”