Madrid: Gareth Bale’s relationship with Zinedine Zidane will come to a crossroads when Real Madrid play Liverpool in the Champions League final, Saturday.
The pair has not seen eye-to-eye for some time, ever since Zidane jettisoned the Welshman for Real’s last 16 first leg game at home to Paris Saint-Germain in February.
But breaking point arrived in April, in the second leg quarterfinals at home to Juventus. Bale had scored three goals in his previous three games, six in five including matches for Wales, and he was rewarded with a start at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane, however, hauled him off at half time, with Real trailing Juve 0-2. At best, it seemed the Frenchman was apportioning blame to Bale. At worst, it seemed like punishment by public humiliation. “It was not to punish Gareth but something had to change,” Zidane had said after the match. “I was not happy with the approach.”
Bale was then benched for La Liga matches against Malaga, Athletic Bilbao and the Champion League semifinals against Bayern Munich.
If that was the lowest point, there has been an upturn in recent weeks, in both Bale’s form and his connection with Zidane. A brilliant goal against Barcelona was followed by two more and a man of the match display against Celta Vigo. Bale scored against Villarreal, Saturday to make it five goals in his last four starts.
“He is playing very well, he has scored many goals recently,” Zidane said Tuesday. “Not only that but he has been very consistent,” the Frenchman added.
Sources have told this agency that Bale’s first choice this summer is to resist offers from England and stay at Real Madrid, where he enjoys the lifestyle, the support of those higher up the club, and where his family is settled.
But his persistence has its limits. If Zidane disregards Bale’s form in Kiev and leaves him on the bench, reconciliation becomes distinctly unlikely.
Bale made it clear while talking to ‘Real Madrid TV’ that he expects to start in the Champions League final against Liverpool. “I’ve been in good form and I am looking forward to the final,” he said when asked about his form.
