Gareth Bale: Coleman calls up unfit Real Madrid star for Wales
Chris Coleman has named the 28-year-old in his squad to face France and Panama in November, despite the fact that he has not played since 26 September.
The manager of the Wales national team, Chris Coleman, has inflamed a delicate situation by calling up Gareth Bale to his squad to face France and Panama in mid-November.
Bale last played for Real Madrid in Dortmund
Bale has not played for Real Madrid since picking up a calf injury in the Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund on 26 September, in which he scored and provided an assist. He has since returned to training on his own, but has not yet rejoined his team-mates.
Coleman also called up the 28-year-old for the international fixtures at the start of October, despite the fact that he was already injured and unable to participate. Problems arose when Real Madrid claimed Bale had picked up a niggle while on international duty. Chris Coleman, who has one month remaining on his current contract and faces an uncertain future, denied this, stating that “Bale did not train in Wales”.
The matter does not appear to be close to a resolution, particularly as the international matches in question are both friendlies.
Bale trains alone at Valdebebas
While the flames of controversy flicker around him, Gareth Bale has remained focussed on returning to full fitness. His team-mates are in London ahead of their Champions League clash against Tottenham at Wembley. Meanwhile, he uploaded a video of himself training alone at Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex.
“Good sessions this week. Good luck to the boys tonight, gutted to not be playing at Wembley but working hard to get back out there,” was Bale’s accompanying message.
Wales squad for matches against France and Panama: Hennessey, Ward, Maxwell, A. Williams, Chester, Gunter, Taylor, Davies, Ampadu, Lockyer, Allen, Ramsey, King, Ledley, Edwards, Huws, J. Williams, Lawrence, Brooks, Woodburn, Vokes, Robson-Kanu, Bale, and Watkins.
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