Bale picks up groin strain

Wales have belatedly confirmed that Real Madrid’s new signing Gareth Bale has suffered a groin strain whilst on international duty.

Despite negotiations over his €90m-€100m transfer from Tottenham and a foot injury disrupting his preseason, the 24-year-old was included in Chris Coleman’s squad this month for World Cup qualifiers with Macedonia and Serbia.

However, after not featuring at all in Friday’s defeat to Macedonia, as otherwise expected, Bale has been confirmed today as having suffered a groin strain.

“We had a conversation with Gareth before the game, he had a tight groin from the day before and we could not take that chance,” Wales manager Coleman has told reporters on Monday.

“As we speak he has gone to have another scan on it to clear his mind so he knows everything is alright.

“We went into the Macedonia game with everything great. Gareth gets his move to Real Madrid, everything is positive.

“Then Gareth picks up a strain in training and can't play in the game which is disappointing.

“He was never going to be available to start either of these games but at best he would have come on for maybe half an hour.

“There is a small chance of that tomorrow night, we will see when we get the scan results back and how he feels.”

The injury could delay Bale’s debut beyond Madrid’s next fixture, which is away to Villarreal in La Liga this Saturday, whilst it may also disrupt Los Blancos’ perceived plan to have Bale ready by the following weekend.

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