ZINEDINE ZIDANE cast doubt over Gareth Bale’s commitment to Real Madrid after they lost 1-0 to relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano.
The Frenchman took aim at the winger with comments that suggest the Welshman’s time in the Spanish capital might be coming to an end.
Adri Embarba scored the only goal of the game for second-bottom Vallecano – converting a penalty after VAR penalised Jesus Vallejo for a foul on Javi Guerra.
Only days ago, Zidane said he could see Bale playing with Real Madrid target Eden Hazard, but the World Cup winner has changed his tune after the embarrassing defeat.
The pair had a frosty relationship during Zidane’s first spell at the Bernabeu, and with reports of a swap-deal with Paul Pogba on the cards, these latest comments point towards a summer exit for the 29-year-old former Spurs star.
A furious Zidane said: “I don’t know if Bale is focused. You’ll have to ask him.”
Bale, 29, reportedly left Vallecano’s stadium separately to his team-mates to board a private jet.
Marca claim Zidane gave his players two and a half days rest and had given Bale permission to go to the airport alone.
Vallecano had won just seven games from 34 before the clash and the 46-year-old admitted his whole team was not up to scratch.
Zidane said: “We did nothing from the first minute to the last.
“Sometimes you can’t score but you have chances but we didn’t play at all.
“We have to be very angry, I am because we left a bad image today and I am responsible, not just the players.
“We have to apologise for what we did today.”
Looking forward to the end of the season and the transfer window, Zidane added: “It would be better for the season to end as soon as possible.
“We have three games left and we have to play them, we cannot finish like that, giving that image.
“What we saw today is unacceptable.”
Real Madrid are third in La Liga, 18 points behind champions Barcelona.
