Zinedine Zidane: Gareth Bale And Karim Benzema Will Stay At Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has stressed that Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will remain with the club next season despite the continuous speculation over their futures. Bale has been alleged to have had a rift with Zidane owing to his reduced playing time whilst Benzema has come for criticism from the club’s supporters after his poor form in front of goal.

Speaking in a weekly press conference, Zidane was quizzed about the positions of the first-team duo to which he dismissed their prospects of leaving the club, he said: “We need them and I’ll do everything possible so that they’re not affected by what’s been said outside. They’ll stay with us. I know all our players want to play, but it isn’t possible. The message is for everyone, not just Bale and Benzema, that we’re sticking together because there’s a month left of the season and we have it all to do.”

Obviously, Zidane has been content with his existing squad and not many can blame him after guiding Los Blancos to Champions League glory in the last two seasons. The reigning champions are on course for a third straight title this month after warding off Bayern Munich’s challenge in the semi-final stage but Liverpool could yet have a say in the final in Kyiv.

Meanwhile, the future of Bale could once again be raised during the summer, should Los Blancos decide to go on a mega spending spree. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard have been touted as possible candidates to bolster the wider positions and the signing of either could witness the exit of the Welshman – whose Los Blancos career has been hampered by numerous injuries. Bale was only a second-half substitute during the recent European outing against Bayern with Marco Asensio favoured ahead of him for a starting role.