Gareth Bale not distracted by speculation over future at Real Madrid

The Gareth Bale saga goes on at Real Madrid this LaLiga season. After helping to secure a Champions League victory over Liverpool in the final in 2018, Gareth Bale has found himself isolated at the club. The Welsh winger was involved in a 'will he, won't he' battle with manager Zinedine Zidane in the off season. Zidane publicly stated this summer that it was better if Gareth Bale left the club. Bale was on the verge of a move to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning, with the Chinese side offering the Welshman an astronomical wage package. Real Madrid, however, vetoed the sale, since they were bound to miss out on a transfer fee for the Welshman. 

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Gareth Bale, meanwhile, has stated that he is not distracted by speculation over his future at the Bernabeu. Bale moved to Real Madrid in 2013 for a then world-record fee of €100.8 million. Since then, Bale has gone on to score 80 goals in 161 appearances for Los Blancos. Bale, however, finds himself marginalized under Zinedine Zidane this season. Bale has since forced his way back into Zidane's plans, having made 6 appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga this term. Bale was linked with a move away from Madrid all summer, with reports further intensifying after the much-awaited signing of Eden Hazard. Bale continues to be linked with a move towards Manchester United. However, with the club languishing in 12th after eight Premier League games, the move would hold little appeal to a player of Bale's stature. 

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UEFA EURO 2020 QUALIFIERS

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has gone on to say that Gareth Bale now feels "loved" at the club and that the Welsh winger is enjoying his football at Real Madrid; a sign that bodes well for Giggs with the Euro Qualifiers around the corner. "You play with a lot of emotion, and anger comes into it, but I'm just trying to play football, enjoy it as much as I can and give my best,", Bale told reporters ahead of their Euro Qualifier against Slovakia. Giggs will be hoping that Bale is back to his best, having had to leave midfielder Aaron Ramsay out of the squad owing to a groin injury. Giggs' Wales face off against Slovakia on Thursday. Wales currently lie 4th in Group E of the Euro 2020 Qualifiers, 3 points behind 2nd places Slovakia.

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