Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has been spotted playing golf as his team-mates prepare for tonight's Champions League last-16 clash against Manchester City.
The Welsh winger asked to be left out of Los Blancos' squad for the trip to the Etihad Stadium after playing no part in the club's last seven fixtures in LaLiga and did not travel to England on Thursday.
Coach Zinedine Zidane said in his pre-match press conference that the 31-year-old had "preferred not to play", but refused to reveal further details of their conversation.
Standard Sport understands the former Tottenham attacker knew he would not feature in Manchester and therefore requested he be left out altogether.
Instead, he was caught on camera playing golf in images captured by El Chiringuito at midday on Friday and broadcast by sports show Jugones this afternoon.
Bale, who has two years remaining on his contract at Real Madrid, has scored just three goals in 20 appearances for Los Blancos in 2019-20 and is no longer part of Zidane's plans.
