Gareth Bale does not take Real Madrid team bus

Gareth Bale was the only player to not take the Real Madrid team bus after Sunday’s defeat at Rayo Vallecano, claims multiple reports in Spain.

Instead, the player took a car straight to Madrid’s Barajas airport to get on a private plane after the limp loss.

Zinedine Zidane told media after the game that he “was not sure” if the player was “focused” on Madrid following another below par display.

The report follows directly on from Marca stating earlier this week that Los Blancos were now willing to loan out the Welsh forward as they have given up hope on receiving a transfer fee.

Such a move would free up vital wages in order for the club to rejuvenate other areas of their squad, although it would of course mean the club do not receive a transfer fee.

The 29-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation that he may leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

However, Bale’s current contract runs through until 2022 and a buying club for the former Tottenham man cannot be found.

The report claims that the exit will be similar to that of James Rodriguez, who joined Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal with a minimal upfront fee and €35m option to sign permanently.

However, Bale himself is said not to want to leave the club with agent Jonathan Barnett telling Spanish TV station Cuatro earlier this month: “He is very happy here.

“Gareth is a Real Madrid player and at this moment he is not thinking about returning to England.”

Earlier this month, a report in Marca outlined how the Welsh forward has decisively lost the support of the club’s fanbase following a series of misses against basement side Huesca recently.

The Spanish media have criticised the player for his performances and against Levante last month he seemingly refused to celebrate his goal from the penalty spot with teammates.

Teammate Thibaut Courtois criticised Bale for not attending team dinners while former Madrid and Wales boss John Toshack, who claimed Bale needed to learn the Spanish language to ‘show respect’ to the fans.

Marca said that alongside a frosty relationship with fans and teammates, Coach Zinedine Zidane has also decided that the player should be moved on.

Bale joined Madrid from Tottenham in the summer of 2013 and has won four Champions League titles with the club.

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