Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has insisted that he has a "good relationship" with Gareth Bale.
The 30-year-old has only scored three times during a disappointing season and struggled to make an impact off the bench against Eibar on Madrid's return to action on June 14.
Reports in Spain had claimed that the pair's relationship had taken another difficult turn, but Zidane has played down suggestions that there is an issue between the two individuals.
"The relationship has always been good. When he doesn't play, it seems it's because we don't have a good relationship," Zidane told reporters.
"We know the player he is and what he has done [for Real Madrid]. The truth is there is no before and after Kiev (when Bale scored twice in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2018). I respect very much what Bale has done and I can't control what you (journalists) write, but the relationship is normal."
Bale, who was strongly linked with a move to the Chinese Super League last summer, has a contract at the Bernabeu until the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Matt Law
