Gareth Bale is ‘very close to leaving’ Real Madrid says Zinedine Zidane who says it is ‘best for everyone’

ZINEDINE ZIDANE revealed Gareth Bale is "very close to leaving Real Madrid" - and could be pushed out within 24 hours.

The Welshman, 30, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bernabeu club and now there appears to be no future for him under the current manager.

After leaving the winger out of their pre-season defeat to Bayern Munich in Houston, Texas, the Frenchman did not hold back.

He blasted: "We hope he leaves soon. 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.

"I have to make decisions. We have to change.

"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."

Bale joined Real Madrid in 2013 for a world-record £86million and has won four Champions Leagues with the Spanish giants.

But after struggling to win over Zidane in the Frenchman's first spell in charge, the former Tottenham star felt the full wrath of the Madridistas last season as he could not find any kind of form.

The passionate fans were on his back again before a ball had been kicked this season as they shouted "desagradecido" - Spanish for ungrateful - at the Wales international as he returned for pre-season training.

ZIDANE NOT A FAN

Zidane's return to the club in March following Santiago Solari's sacking spelled bad news and he is clearly not wanted by Zidane.

Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett hit out at Zidane after the comments, though, labelling the Los Blancos coach a "disgrace".

He fumed: "Zidane is a disgrace, he shows no respect for a player that has done so much for Real Madrid."

On whether Bale is close to leaving Madrid, he added: "We are working on it."

But finding a club to take Bale off their hands could prove difficult for Real.

He still has three years on his deal and few clubs are going to be able to afford his astronomical wages, thought to be around £600,000 per week.

Bale is understood to only want to leave Real Madrid for another top European side.

That comes after he was reportedly offered a staggering double-your-money £1.2m per week to move to China by an unnamed club.

Bayern Munich or a Chinese Super League club are the early favourites to sign Bale before the transfer window closes, while a return to the Premier League is another viable option.

Manchester United fans have called upon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make a swoop to land the winger while a romantic return to Tottenham has been suggested.

But Barnett laughed off claims the North London side were plotting a £55m bid to bring the winger back to the Premier League six years after he left for Madrid.

He told talkSPORT: "I don't comment on rubbish."

Bale - who turned 30 this week - was wished a happy birthday by his former club Spurs before his current club, with many thinking it was a tactic to try and lure him back.