Zidane: I never had a problem with 'spectacular' Bale

Zinedine Zidane insisted Gareth Bale’s expected departure from Real Madrid won’t ‘be a weight off my mind’ as the star edges closer to a Tottenham return.

Bale arrived in London on Friday ahead of an emotional return to Tottenham on loan for this season. His medical results may have discovered a knee problem, but he’s still expected to head back to north London all the same.

The 31-year-old’s move will finally pull the curtain on his torrid ending at Real Madrid, where he struggled for any regular game time under Zidane last season.

After a move to China fell through last summer, Bale made just 16 appearances in La Liga. Things got so bad that he became more renown for his antics on the bench rather than the pitch. Especially when action resumed in Spain post-lockdown.

Regardless of how things may have ended, though, Zidane wishes Bale nothing but the best.

“I’m not annoyed that people are blaming me for his departure because it’s not like that,” said the Real Madrid boss during a press conference on Saturday as quoted on Marca. “The matter is more complicated than that.

“What I can say is that we didn’t have any problems between us.

“No one is going to take away what he’s done at Real Madrid. We didn’t have any problems, it wasn’t like that. I wish him the best. I haven’t spoken to him.”

Zidane on Bale's pending exit from Madrid 🗣 pic.twitter.com/M0V7WhwCfg

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 19, 2020

The Wales international proved a revelation from the moment of his world-record arrival in 2013, helping Real Madrid to four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. An impressive 105 goals and 68 assists also came his way in 251 appearances.

“Bale has been spectacular,” continued Zidane.

“What he’s done here has been phenomenal – you can’t dispute that because he’s won a lot and shown his quality.”

On Bale’s lack of minutes last term, the Frenchman added: “Life is like that and, if he stayed last season, it was for a reason.

“The important thing is what the player wants to do – my opinion remains the same. We’ve done things together, with the club and the player.

“Will it be a weight off my mind? No, because it was never a weight. I never had a problem with him.”

Won more trophies than Zidane. Provided more assists than Beckham. Scored more goals than R9. Gareth Bale is far too disrespected by Madrid. pic.twitter.com/ZfewaARGgL

— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) September 18, 2020