Real Madrid: Gareth Bale mystery - training apart, no medical report...
Gareth Bale seemed to pick up a calf muscle injury in Wales' Euro 2020 qualifier against Croatia last week. The official word was cramp but he has yet to reappear.
Gareth Bale hasn't been seen since last week's Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium - a crucial game for Wales, captained by the Real Madrid forward which ended in a 1-1 draw. That result means that Ryan Giggs' men no longer depend on themselves to book their place at the next summer's tournament and to make matters worse, Bale seemed to pick up an injury in the dying moments of the match. He appeared to pull his right calf muscle but just about managed to finish the match…
Bale to miss Galatasaray game
Since then, Bale's wellbeing has been a complete mystery. This season he, along with Karim Benzema, have been Madrid's most decisive players (he had scored two and set up another two before the international break). There has been no sight of Bale out on the practice pitches in Valdebeas, he spent the whole of last week training inside the gym. But nor has the club issue a medical report. Zidane has left him out of the squad list which will travel to Istanbul for Tuesday's game against Galatasaray. With it being a Champions League game, it is very odd that there is no offical word from the club regarding Bale's fitness. The unofficial explanation is cramp...
It must have been a stressful summer for the Welsh winger, who at one point looked like he might be on his way out of the Bernabéu. In the end, no club was able to pay his transfer fee and meet his wage demands. That unfortunate comment from Zidane ("It would better if Bale left tomorrow") understandably didn't go down well with Bale and his close circle. "I'm just trying to play football and enjoy it as much as I can and give my best", Bale explained after winning back a regular place in the side. But, with his mystery injury, we'll have to wait and see when he will be fit to return and achieve his objective.