Real Madrid will not let Gareth Bale leave the club this summer and regard the one-time world-record signing as ‘untouchable’, according to reports in Spain.
There have been suggestions that Bale, who was left on the bench in the Champions League final after suffering from an injury-hit second half of the campaign, would be allowed to leave the Bernabeu.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for the Wales international as they look to bolster their attacking options.
However Spanish newspaper Marca report that Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will not consider any bids for Bale, and sees him as ‘untouchable’.
Bale forms a third of the Real ‘BBC’ front line with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, although he lost his place to Isco when injured, with the Spain international playing brilliantly in his absence.
However in recent weeks there has been speculation that Ronaldo could also be going amid investigations into tax fraud – which he denies – which would make Bale, an £86m signing from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, even more important.
Marca report that Bale is not considering a move away either, and is simply focusing on next season, when Real will be defending the Champions League and La Liga titles.
Bale’s deal at the Bernabeu is set to run until 2022, after the Welshman signed an extension last year.