Zinedine Zidane, coach of Real Madrid, the Spanish soccer league champion, revealed today, Saturday, the truth about his relationship with his player Gareth Bale, and commented on his departure to Tottenham, after several months of sitting on the bench in the royal team.
Bell went to the British capital London yesterday to complete the procedures for joining his former club, Tottenham, after spending 7 years full of achievements and titles in the ranks of the Spanish giants, before becoming out of coach Zidane's accounts since last season.
đź’¬ Hi everyone, the
team prepared very well, and we had enough time.
We want to start and I think the team is waiting for this start.
Today we did the last exercise and tomorrow we play.
I am happy to play again and we know the conditions ... There are many people going through difficult times and we are lucky to play football again pic.twitter.com/TzYJFzmxt0
- Real Madrid CF (@realmadridarab) September 19, 2020
"I did not speak to him. But I know what he has done for this club. He has always proven his distinction and there is no argument about his achievements in the club," Zidane said in a press conference before Real's first match of the new league season on Real Sociedad.
Although Bale played a prominent role in Real's victory in the Champions League in 2016, which is Zidane's first season at the head of the coaching staff, he missed most of the second season due to injuries, and then failed to enter the starting lineup under the leadership of the French coach even after he scored two goals. Against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League Final.
🎥 LIVE: Zidane's press conference ahead of our first match of the season 🆚 @RealSociedad!
#HalaMadrid https://t.co/u9b5UPyKgo
- Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 19, 2020
But Zidane denies that he was the one who pushed Bell to leave. "It was not like this. Rather, it is more complicated than that. But there was never any problem between me and him," he said.
"Some things always happen. Now there is a change in his career, all we can do is wish him all the best ... These things happen in football. But I always said he was a great player."
After the departure of the Welsh player, all eyes turn and hopes at Real now turn to Eden Hazard, who shares with Bale the title of the most expensive player in the team, although he is not expected to participate in the confrontation with Sociedad tomorrow.
Hazard's career in his first season at Real Madrid was hampered by two ankle injuries and other fitness issues, and Zidane said he would not be in a hurry to push him back.
The French coach concluded his remarks by saying, "We have more time to prepare for the season, and all he needs is a guarantee of 120% fitness."