Zinedine Zidane has insisted that Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale is not for sale, and has warned Manchester United and any other interested teams that the La Liga giants want to keep their best players, reports the Daily Mirror.
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Bale’s future at the Bernabeu has come under increased speculation during the course of the campaign, with recent suggestions that he could be used in an exchange deal to lure Angel Di Maria back to Madrid in the summer.
Despite helping Madrid to a cup double last year, he has found his second season in Spain tougher than his first and media reports have heavily linked him with a move back to the Premier League, with United are reportedly interested along with local rivals City and Chelsea.
After signing from Tottenham for a reported world record fee of £85m (via BBC), the Welshman went on to score the winner in the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona, before getting a crucial goal against Atletico Madrid to help clinch the club’s 10th European title.
But this season he has had to endure some abuse from his own supporters, he was booed in the Bernabeu, then had his car attacked following a below-par display in El Clasico last month.
Nonetheless Zidane, who is currently in charge of the B team and has been linked with the managerial post should Carlo Ancelotti depart, has ruled out selling the winger:
“Real Madrid buy the best players in the world, they don’t sell them.” he told reporters (via Mirror Online)
“Of course other clubs will be interested in him, he would improve any squad in the world.”
“But the president has said he is not for sale – and that is because he is not for sale. That will be the answer to Manchester United or any other club that asks the question.” he added.