Gareth Bale Left From Real Madrid Squad Amid Premier League Return

Real Madrid out of favor Gareth Bale has been axed from Zinedine Zidane 22-man squad for their final La Liga game of the season amid speculations he could return to the Premier League.

Bale appears to be on his way out of Madrid this summer, with Newcastle United having been linked with a move for the Wales international if a proposed Saudi-led takeover of the club is approved.

The 31-year-old has also been linked with a return to former club Tottenham, while Manchester United have been suggested as a possible destination numerous times in recent years.

And a return to English football may have moved a step closer after Bale was left out for the newly crowned Spanish champions' clash away at Leganes on Sunday night.

Reports have suggested Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is desperate to move Bale on in the summer transfer window.

The forward could be seen celebrating awkwardly when Real sealed the Spanish title against Villarreal on Thursday, standing to one side as his team-mates jubilantly threw Zidane in the air.

Since the season resumed in June, Bale has made just two appearances for Los Blancos - and has failed to feature in their last six games.

Bale was snapped watching last Monday's win over Granada from the stands through pretend binoculars, while was also seen pretending to fall asleep with a face mask over his eyes during Madrid's 2-0 win over Alaves three days before that.

His antics angered some fans, while Bale's former Tottenham teammate Dimitar Berbatov accused the Welshman of "disrespecting" Real Madrid.

"Gareth Bale is in the headlines again for pretending to sleep in the stands when he found out he was going to be an unused substitute," Berbatov told Betfair.

"When I saw it I couldn't believe it. I watched him put his mask over his eyes and pretend to be asleep.

"I cannot support that. It is unprofessional and disrespectful to Real Madrid.

"Madrid need to find a solution to the Bale saga. It's not good for Bale or the team."

At one stage last summer, Bale appeared set to switch to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua which was not materialized.

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Conte, Low, Pochettino Could Replace Zidane at Madrid

The Frenchman is under pressure following his side's recent poor form and here is a look at some of the men who could succeed him in the summer

1. Joachim Low

Real Madrid have long admired the Germany boss and he has been considered on a number of occasions in the past few seasons to coach Los Blancos.

His commitment to the national team has dashed those hopes up until now and his current contract runs until 2020, but he could consider a move to Real if the position becomes available this summer, after he has led Germany in the defence of the World Cup crown they won in 2014.

2. Antonio Conte

The Chelsea manager is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2019, but admitted just this week that "anything is possible" and it looks increasingly likely the former Italy and Juventus boss could be moving on in the summer.

Having led the Blues to the Premier League title in his first season in charge and won Serie A three times as Juve coach, his stock is high in Spain and he will certainly be one of the names on Madrid's shortlist if Zidane ends up leaving at the end of this season.

3. Mauricio Pochettino

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been a fan of the current Tottenham manager since his spell in charge at Espanyol and the Argentine's impressive work at Spurs has not gone unnoticed by the 10-time European champions.

Pochettino will be among Madrid's top targets when Zidane leaves the club, be it this summer or further down the line, although the one concern at Real is the fact that the 45-year-old is yet to win a trophy in his coaching career.

4. Unai Emery

The last-16 Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain could have a big bearing on the futures of both Zidane and PSG boss Unai Emery.

Failure to make his mark in Europe this season is likely to see Emery replaced at the Parc des Princes in the summer and Madrid could make a move for the Basque, who was considered before Zidane took over in 2016 and is well regarded at the Santiago Bernabeu after winning the Europa League three times in a row with Sevilla.

5. Marcelino Garcia Toral

Another Spanish coach impressing at the moment is Marcelino, the 52-year-old has been a revelation in La Liga this season after leading Valencia into the top three, and above Real Madrid, following several seasons in the lower reaches of the table.

Marcelino has transformed many of Valencia's players since arriving at Mestalla in the summer and that, along with his exciting brand of fearless football, is likely to make him an attractive option for a Madrid team seemingly lacking motivation after winning five trophies in 2017.

6. Leonardo Jardim

The Portuguese is considered one of Europe's most exciting coaches at the moment and the man from Madeira may be a popular choice with that island's most famous citizen, Cristiano Ronaldo, at Real Madrid.

Jardim led Monaco to the title in Ligue 1 last season ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, but lost many of his best players - including Kylian Mbappe - in the summer and could be tempted by a new challenge. He is likely to be among the names on Madrid's list should Zidane depart at the end of this season.

7. Arsene Wenger

At the height of his success at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger was targeted on several occasions by Real Madrid. However, he always chose to stay loyal to the Gunners and a move never materialised.

With Arsenal struggling to keep pace in the Premier League this season, this looks like being his last season in north London and that could alert Madrid if they dispense with Zidane and other top-level coaches are not available in the summer.

8. Maurizio Sarri

Napoli are one of the most attractive sides in Europe under Maurizio Sarri and if Real Madrid want more of a top tactician for their next coaching appointment, he could be their man.

The 59-year-old has worked his way to the top in a long career, coaching 10 smaller sides in Italy prior to his appointment at Napoli, and although he has not won trophies, he was named Serie A coach of the year in 2016-17 and has even been compared to Pep Guardiola.

9. Massimiliano Allegri

Allegri has led Juventus to three Serie A and Coppa Italia doubles at the Turin outfit, losing Champions League finals to Barcelona (in 2014-15) and Real Madrid (in 2016-17) along the way.

The 50-year-old, also a Serie A winner with AC Milan, is one of Europe's most highly-rated coaches and is likely to be among those being watched by Real Madrid. At the moment, however, a move to the Premier League looks more likely if he leaves Juve, with Chelsea and Arsenal both keeping tabs and Allegri also learning English.

10. Jose Mourinho

Although his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was turbulent to say the last, Jose Mourinho remains on good terms with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the Portuguese could return as coach one day.

Currently amid an ambitious project at Manchester United, a move to Madrid in the summer would be out of the question unless he were to leave Old Trafford at the end of this season - and he would not be a popular choice with many of Real's current squad, either...

SOURCE: All Football

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Zidane Feels The Heat as Madrid Flop Yet Again

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane says he prefers not to think too far ahead after Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Numancia in the Copa del Rey.

Lucas Vazquez struck twice for Los Blancos, but Guillermo Fernandez equalised for the second-tier visitors.

Although Madrid still advance to the next round 5-2 on aggregate, this is their second draw in a row, leaving Zidane under pressure as Madrid sit fourth in La Liga, 16 points below leaders Barcelona.

"I just go game to game, year to year," Zidane said. "I cannot think two or three years down the line, as I know how it is here, even having a contract, which means nothing.

"It is not easy for the players who play less. We played a good game. We maybe lacked a bit of gas at the end."

However, Zidane insists he is "happy with what the players did" after selecting a second-string side without stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Luka Modric.

"The pity is the goal before half-time, and also a goal at the end," Zidane added. "But apart from that we had a good game, and they did what they had to do.

"All the questions, things you think about bad play or whatever, it could be. But we are convinced we will move forward. 

"I am happy with those who played. I am satisfied across the two games, and the players are too."

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