Gareth Bale: Zinedine Zidane questions Manchester United transfer target’s commitment to Real Madrid
The 29-year-old has been in and out of Zidane’s starting XI since the manager's return to the club in March
Zinedine Zidane has questioned Gareth Bale’s commitment to Real Madrid following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
The Welshman played the full 90 minutes as Real slumped to their tenth league defeat of the season.
Bale, who has not scored in seven games, has failed to secure a regular starting place since Zidane’s return to the Bernabeu in March.
It has led to speculation surrounding his future, with long-term admirers Manchester United reportedly interested in a summer move.
And after losing to Rayo Vallecano, Zidane said: “I do not know if he [Bale] is focused on Madrid.”
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Despite winning four Champions League trophies and one LaLiga title in Spain, Bale has come under-fire for his performances and injury problems from Real fans.
Last week, Zidane warned Real stars who are unhappy with their playing time should ‘go elsewhere and get more minutes’.
He said: “If they're under contract, they can stay here, even if they know that they're not going to get game time.
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“However, I think that all of them are looking to play. If I was asked the question, I'd want to go elsewhere and get more minutes.
“With 22 or 23 players in the squad, the reality in football is that there will be players who will end up getting less game time.
“But if there's no space for a given player, it's better for them to go and play.”
In March, Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, joined talkSPORT where he called the Real Madrid fans who booed him 'disgusting', adding the player 'loves' playing for the club.
He said: “He loves his football, he loves Real Madrid and he wants to play.
“It is about whether he enjoys playing for Real Madrid and he does at this moment. It might well be the time will come that he has had enough but maybe by coming out and saying what I think, some normal human beings at Real Madrid will think ‘hold on a minute, it is wrong what we are doing’ and maybe they will change.
“If nobody says anything then it could lead to bad things in the future. Somebody has to say it.”