Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says Gareth Bale was left out of the squad to face Manchester City in the Champions League on Friday because he 'preferred not to play'.
There was no place for the Welsh winger on Zidane's 24-man list for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, where Los Blancos will look to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit in the teams' last-16 tie.
Asked about Bale's absence in the pre-match press conference on Thursday, Zidane said: "I'll explain. Many things have been said. We have a respectful coach-player relationship, that's clear.
"The only thing I can say is that he preferred not to play. Nothing more. The rest is between him and me."
Asked again about the Welshman moments later, he said: "I have already responded. Nothing more.
"The rest is a conversation between the player and the coach which I'm not going to tell."
In a further question regarding the player's commitment, Zidane added: "I respect Gareth a lot and all of the players. Dressing room things should stay between the players and the coach."
Bale has two years left on his contract at Real and his agent has claimed he could see out the remainder of that time in Madrid.
On the winger's future, Zidane said: "I don't know. At the moment he is a Real Madrid player. Nothing changes and I respect that.
"He preferred not to play, that's all I can say. Everyone here for the game tomorrow is focused only on that."
