Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed the strange reason for Gareth Bale not being in Los Blancos' squad to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Friday night.
Official: Bale Left Out Of Real's UCL Squad
The Welshman's future in Spain has been uncertain for a while, with the 31-year-old starting just once in all competitions since February.
Bale has made headlines in recent weeks for his antics on the bench, at first for pretending to fall asleep during a match, and a week later when he acted as if the medical tape he was holding were binoculars.
Despite his importance in European matches in the past, he was not included in Zidane's matchday squad to take on City in the second leg of their round of 16 clash on Friday, and his manager has insisted it was the player's decision not to play.
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"I will explain because many things are said," the Frenchman said, according to Goal.
"We have a relationship of respect between player and coach, that is clear.
"The only thing I can say is that he has decided not to play, and the rest is between him and me."
'Bale Wants To Return To England'
Bale, whose contract with the Spanish giants expires in June 2022, has played 251 times for the club since his arrival in 2013, scoring 105 goals and assisting a further 68 strikes.
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