Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has refused to criticise Gareth Bale for playing golf during Tuesday's defeat to Tottenham in Munich.
On the day the Chinese transfer deadline passed, Zidane defended Bale's right to do whatever he wants in his free time but refused to confirm if the wantaway Welshman would remain at the club beyond the end of the window.
Bale did not travel to Germany for a 1-0 defeat to his former club or Wednesday's 5-3 win over Fenerbahce because he was, according to friends, too distressed by Real's eleventh-hour decision to torpedo his £1million-a-week move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning.
Speaking on Tuesday, Zidane claimed Bale did not feel well and said the decision for him to remain in Madrid and train alone had been taken in consultation with the doctor.
But the winger, who is reportedly nicknamed 'the golfer' at Real, was pictured on the golf course on Tuesday.
"I don't know anything about that, I've not seen the picture," Zidane said after the win over Fener at the Allianz Arena.
"I'm here with my players, so I can't say much about that. I hope that he's working out well. We're here. We think about the team and all the players here.
"We will see when we get back to Madrid. I wouldn't tell him he's not allowed to do it. He's old enough to do what he wants. He maybe had his reasons.
"It's his private life, it's not something I judge. I think he trained well. We'll see what's going to happen."
The Chinese transfer window has now closed but Bale could yet join a Premier League club before August 8 or move elsewhere in Europe.
"Before 31 August, a lot can happen," Zidane said. "We'll see what happens when we get back to Madrid."
Asked directly if Bale's behaviour showed a lack of respect, Zidane replied: "No, you won't put me in a position I don't like.
"You can ask questions of course but I'm not going to answer this question."
