Zinedine Zidane puts swift end to Gareth Bale transfer saga | OneFootball

The transfer saga surrounding Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has finally came to an end following his side’s season opener.

In the absence of the injured Eden Hazard against Celta, the Welshman stepped up to the plate.

He provided the assist for Karim Benzema’s opening goal and after the game, Zinedine Zidane confirmed that Bale will not leave the club this summer.

Despite the coach being eager to push the winger out the door earlier in the window, he has now changed his tune.

“He is going to stay,” Zidane said afterwards when quizzed on Bale’s future in his press conference.

“Everyone we have allows us to think positively. We have to focus on the season and nothing more.

“Hazard’s injury is bad luck for us but it has not changed the thoughts we had on Bale for this match.

“Gareth, James [Rodríguez], everyone here is going to defend this jersey in the way it deserves.”

That decision may also have been taken out of necessity after the Belgian picked up a thigh injury.

He now faces up to three weeks on the sidelines, handing Bale an unlikely avenue back into Zidane’s plans.