It has been almost six years since Gareth Bale swapped North London for sunny Spain (BBC), and in that time he has scooped four Champions League winners’ medals.
However, it has been far from a fairytale experience for Bale in Madrid, as the fans have failed to take to the Welshman.
This has led to rumours linking him with a move back to Tottenham this summer, whether it be on a free transfer (Express) or a £10m loan deal (Daily Mail).
If this deal was to go through, it would have been Bale’s final game at Real Madrid this afternoon, but Zinedine Zidane chose to keep the star on the bench for the game.
Bale returned the favour by walking down the tunnel back to the changing room at the final whistle, instead of joining his teammates on the pitch and clapping the fans.
Zidane spoke in a post-match press conference (Daily Mail): “He [Bale] has won a lot here but we live for the present and the future. We will not forget the past but we have to live for day the day to day.
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“I have counted on other players in more in recent weeks, and if I had a fourth substitute today I would not have brought him on.
“I make these decisions when it is right to do so, and I must act in the best interests of the team at all times.”
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