The Welshman has been left out of the last two games by Zinedine Zidane as Madrid look to offload the player ahead of next season.
It is not the end that Gareth Bale could have envisioned when he joined Real Madrid to huge fanfare. Dropped from the most recent two squads by manager Zinedine Zidane, who confirmed that the Welshman was fit, the Welshman is now hoping to get a place in the side for the final league game (at home to Real Betis) to say his farewell to the fans.
Bale’s Betis bow beckons
It could have been that the then most expensive transfer in world football had been dropped for tactical reasons, as Zidane tests out some of his fringe players ahead of his so-called ‘revolution’ for next season. But this, we now know, is not the case. The Spanish club have already made it clear with Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, although in a diplomatic way, that if he brings an offer to the table from another club, it will be well received. The manager too explained after the 3-1 defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend that it was clear what he had done by leaving out the winger, with many considering that he will not pull on the white shirt again.
With all signs clearly pointing to an exit, AS has learned that it is the desire of the player to have a final chance to say his farewells in front of the Santiago Bernabéu, representing the club he came to star in. The game against Betis kicks off at midday on Sunday 19 May and, with nothing at stake for Los Blancos, it could be a chance for the supporters to change some fickle whistling to respectful applause. Clearly Bale has not lived up to the expectations that some had for him, but he has certainly contributed with some crucial and extraordinary goals. The run down the wing that left Bartra trailing in his wake before scoring against Barça in the Copa and the overhead kick against Liverpool in the Champions League final will live long in the highlights reel of the most successful club in world football.