Gareth Bale transfer news: Zinedine Zidane says deal yet to be done as Real Madrid star nears China move
Wales international is set for a £1m-a-week deal that will make him the highest-paid player in Chinese Super League history
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Your support makes all the difference.Gareth Bale is close to leaving Real Madrid for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning, but current manager Zinedine Zidane has said the deal is yet to be done.
Spanish media reported the Wales international will sign a three-year deal worth an estimated £1m a week.
His exit would mean manager Zidane has won his battle of wills with the forward, whose six-year stay in the Spanish capital looked set to come to an end once the Frenchman returned for his second spell in charge.
Zidane made it clear he was not Bale's biggest fan and the player's injury record - he has made just 79 LaLiga starts in the last four seasons - did not help his cause.
Last week the Real boss had said the player was "very close to leaving" and his exit would be "best for everyone" after omitting him from their pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich.
In response Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett branded Zidane a "disgrace".
But Bale featured in Madrid’s heavy 7-3 humiliation against La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid overnight, and Zidane confirmed afterwards that the situation remains unchanged as talks over the Welshman’s departure continue to be negotiated.
“We don’t know,” said Zidane. “At the moment it is the same, Bale is here with us, he played, and we will see what happens.”
Bale played 42 matches for Real last season and was booed by his side's home supporters at times during the campaign.
PA
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