Bale sticks to his guns: "If I have to play golf, I will play golf"

Zidane made it even clearer against Betis what he has shown since he returned to Real Madrid: he does not want Gareth Bale at the club next season. It has been a while since the 'Cardiff Express' fell out of favour with the French coach, who did not play a single minute of what could have been his last game for the club. 

It could be, we have to stress that. Because Bale, who was laughing on the bench while his team were losing, has the intention of staying at Real Madrid. He does not want to leave, at least not without being paid the three years salary left on his contract. 'Radioestadio', after the game, said that he made a very eyecatching phrase. 

"I have three years left on my contract. If they want me to leave, then they should pay me 17 million euros net per season. And if not, I wil stay. if I have to play golf, I will play it," Bale apparently said in the Madrid dressing room, making clear that it will not be so easy to find an exit which Real Madrid want to seal however they can. 

Thw biggest problem as of today, aside from the player's wishes, is that no offer have arrived for Bale, who closed the season with just 14 goals and six assists to his name in 42 appearances. In the season Bale had to take over from Cristiano, he had his second worst campaign at the club. 

This circumstance, combined with his constant injuries, have made his market value drop. Zidane has shown him the exit door, he is clear that Bale's time at the Bernabeu has finished. But the footballer's desire, just days before the market opens in Spain, is to stay in the Spanish capital. 

In recent weeks, his agent, Jonathan Barnett, has repeated time and time again that Bale has a Madrid contract, he feels comfortable and he wants to fight for a spot. It is a fight to the death between the club and the player which could go on for longer than the club want it to.