Real Madrid want Wales to give Gareth Bale a rest and not name him in the squad to play Northern Ireland and Ukraine.
AS reports there’s a fear at Santiago Bernabeu that Bale could suffer a relapse of his thigh injury if he plays for the national team so soon after making a comeback with his club.
Bale missed two months of action between January and March with the injury, appearing in the 5-1 win over Sporting Gijon on January 17 and then not again until March 5’s 7-1 win over Celta Vigo.
Wales manager Chris Coleman is to speak with Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane over the forward, having planned on naming Bale in the squad for games on March 24 and March 28.
It’s suggested Bale will feature, but not play 90 minutes, against Northern Ireland, but won’t make the trip to Ukraine, in part because his partner is due to give birth to the couple’s second child.
AS points out Bale has suffered six soleus muscle injuries in the two-and-a-half years he has been at Madrid, and one of those came immediately after he had been away with his country.
Madrid are thinking about the Clasico on April 2, the first La Liga game after the international break, and the Champions League quarter-final, the first leg of which comes days later.
