Zinedine Zidane has said Gareth Bale told him he did not want to play for Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 on Friday.
But Zidane said Eden Hazard is fit to face City, despite concerns regarding the Belgian’s right ankle.
Bale was left out of the squad and has not travelled to Manchester, where Madrid are aiming to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in February to reach the quarter-finals.
Sources close to Bale claim he told Zidane he did not want to travel, after finding out he was not included in the squad, but was ready to play.
“There is a relationship of respect between player and coach,” Zidane said in a press conference on Thursday.
“He preferred not to play, nothing more, and the rest is between me and him.” (Vanguard)