Zidane all but confirms Real Madrid exit for Gareth Bale

WARSAW, POLAND - NOVEMBER 02: (SOUTH AFRICA AND POLAND OUT) Zinedine Zidane coach of Real Madrid gives instructions to Gareth Bale of Real Madrid during the Group Stage (group F) of the UEFA Champions League match between Legia Warszawa and Real Madrid on November 02, 2016 at Polish Army stadium in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Maciej Gillert/Gallo Images Poland/Getty Images)
WARSAW, POLAND - NOVEMBER 02: (SOUTH AFRICA AND POLAND OUT) Zinedine Zidane coach of Real Madrid gives instructions to Gareth Bale of Real Madrid during the Group Stage (group F) of the UEFA Champions League match between Legia Warszawa and Real Madrid on November 02, 2016 at Polish Army stadium in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Maciej Gillert/Gallo Images Poland/Getty Images)

After being left out of the squad for the second consecutive game, Zinedina Zidane did not mince words when it came to Gareth Bale.

Time is running out for Gareth Bale as all signs point to a move away from Real Madrid. For the second consecutive game, Zinedine Zidane has opted not to include the Welshman in his squad selection. Bale sat out the game against Villarreal and did so again away to Real Sociedad which Real Madrid lost.

According to AS, when asked about whether Gareth Bale would feature against Real Betis, Zidane said, “I’m not sure. We’ll see next week if he is.”

When asked in a follow-up if Bale was fit, he responded, “Yes! It’s very clear what I’ve done this weekend. Next week we see what I do, and also what happens next year. That’s it!”

It’s as animated as Zinedine Zidane gets. In both his stints as Real Madrid manager, he’s usually been calm and collected to the point of being boring. It’s clear that he’s fed up with having to answer questions about Gareth Bale’s future.

Zidane was also asked about Bale before the match against Real Sociedad and about a conversation he apparently had with the former Tottenham player.

In a report by Marca, when asked about the conversation, Zidane said, “I won’t tell you anything about it, private conversations are private. It’s what I have to do with all the players, but it stays internal.”

The fact of the matter is that ever since Zidane’s returned, he’s constantly been asked about the future of players who were relegated to the bench under Santiago Solair. Zidane had positive words to say about players like Isco and Marcelo. But whenever Gareth Bale’s name came up, he gave a very non-committal, diplomatic answer.

The Bernabeu faithful has long been tired of Bale and now it seems the case with Zidane. With rumors swirling about of a “revolution” at Real Madrid with Florentino Perez opening up his checkbook and bringing in the likes of Eden Hazard and Paul Pogba, players will have to be sold to not only make room on the team but being in line with Financial Fair Play as well.

With Gareth Bale not living up to expectations, he’s a prime candidate to be sold because he’s the player the club can potentially get the most out of. One way or another, time is up for Bale at Real Madrid.