Gareth Bale has suffered another setback at Real Madrid after a blunt statement over his absence from Wednesday night’s La Liga clash against Osasuna.
The Spanish league leaders have confirmed that Bale will not be part of the matchday squad for the clash but offered no explanation as to his absence.
Earlier this month, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett confirmed the Welshman would be leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Bale has recently hit out at Spanish media outlet Marca as being “disgusting” for comparing him to a parasite over claims he is sucking money out of the Spanish giants. Bale concluded a rant against the reports by stating: “We all know who the real parasite is!” The forward had faced fresh criticism from the Madrid media after his starring role for Wales in their playoff win over Austria last month.
Bale’s fall from prominence at Real Madrid in recent years has been striker and he went six months without featuring for the club this season, although he regained fitness during the international breaks to represent Wales. He has suffered multiple fitness setbacks along the way, but he has become a peripheral player at the club.
The 32-year-old had appeared to be enjoying a new lease of life in the Spanish capital following the return of boss Carlo Ancelotti this summer.
The Italian had been in the dugout whenever Bale signed for Los Blancos from Tottenham in the summer of 2013 and the forward’s best form at the club came under the boss. Yet after starting in the club’s first three games of the season, Bale suffered fresh injury heartbreak with a hamstring pull seeing him miss months of the campaign while various fitness setbacks since have delayed his return to action.
Earlier this month, Madrid boss Ancelotti said of Bale: "He had problems and lately he hasn't played, but he's a player who has entered the history of the club with his titles and goals. He is fine, he's in good physical condition. He has shown that with his national team and he wants to show it here. He's confident, he wants to finish well with this club."
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The forward starting February’s draw at Villarreal and made a brief cameo substitute appearance against Getafe earlier this month – a game in which was largely booed by the club’s fans upon his first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu in over two years – but has not played any other league games since August.
Bale has won a total of 13 trophies at Real Madrid including two La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. However, his game-time under both Zinedine Zidane and Ancelotti has significantly reduced in recent years – with his exit this summer at the end of his contract.
