Gareth Bale is not wanted by Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and the Frenchman will no doubt be hoping the player takes the opportunity to leave the club.
Zidane has made it clear to several stars, including Bale, that they are surplus to requirements at the club.
The 47-year-old coach insists it is “nothing personal” but is merely something that “must be done”, when talking about the winger leaving.
Real face is that Bale wants to stay at the club where he has three years remaining on his contract that pays him a reported £650,000-a-week in wages.
Real face several problems to moving Bale on, firstly the Welshman wants to stay at the club. Bale also had three years left on a contract that pays him a reported £650,000-a-week in wages.
Los Blancos are reportedly looking for around £70m for the winger, but also face the prospect of having to make a contribution to his wages as very few clubs can afford his currently salary.
One club that has offered the Wales international a chance to leave the Bernabeu and actually increase his wages, according to the Mirror, is Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan, who are willing to make him the highest-paid player in the world.
The report suggests the player is likely to stay in Europe and although the winger has been linked to a return to the Premier League it also claims Manchester United and Tottenham are not interested, while Chelsea are currently prevented from signing players for two-windows because of their transfer ban.
Despite the diminishing number of clubs that are interested and can afford the player and his wages, Zidane recently stated that Bale is “very close to leaving” the Spanish club.
“We hope he leaves soon,” Zidane said.
“It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team.
“I have nothing personal against him, but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done.”
Bale joined Real in 2013 for a then world-record fee of £86m and despite winning four Champions Leagues with the club, he has fallen out of favour with many of its fans.
He has struggled with several injuries during his time at the club and as such has only managed to make 79 La Liga appearances in the past four seasons. However, Bale did play 42 matches for Los Blancos last term, but half of those were as a substitute.
Bale scored eight goals and three assists in 29 La Liga appearances in their 2018/19 campaign and many fans feel he has failed to fill the void left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus last summer.
Zidane insists changes have to be made to the side that finished third in La Liga last season, got knocked out of the Champions League by Ajax over two legs, and also lost to rivals Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
The club have spent more than £250m bringing in several new players to the Bernabeu, including Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo.
However, Los Blancos now need to sell players if they are to conform with FIFA’s Financial Fair Play rules and Bale is on a list with James Rodriguez, Isco and Marco Asensio as players who are facing the axe.
“I have to make decisions. We have to change,” Zidane added.
“The exit is the coach’s decision, and also of the player, who knows the situation.
“The situation will change, I do not know if in 24 or 48 hours, but it will – and it’s a good thing for everyone.”
However, Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, believes the manager has no respect for Bale.
“Zidane is a disgrace,” Barnett said.
“He shows no respect for a player that has done so much for Real Madrid.”