Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has said that Gareth Bale will play an important part in the Spanish side's running between now and the end of the season.
The Welshman was linked with a January move back to Tottenham after seeing the first half of his season disrupted by injuries, there is also speculation over a strained relationship between Bale and his manager.
However, the 30-year-old was named in the starting lineup for the team's 4-1 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday, playing a part in Isco's equaliser in the first-half.
It was Bale's first league appearance since January 4th, when he played the full 90 minutes of the 3-0 win over Getafe.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Zidane has insisted that Bale will prove to be an important player for his team for the end of season running, and refuted claims that there is a problem between himself and the player.
“He is an important player,” he said, as reported by the Independent. “He has done 65 good minutes offensively and defensively, he has tried and he is an important player.
“The problem is that they want us to have a problem with Gareth, but we do not have one.
“There are many players, it is not easy to manage all that, but in the end he is a very important player and little by little he will continue playing like the others.”
Bale was taken off the pitch after 71 minutes, but Zidane said that that was down to a lack of match fitness after his injury layoff.
“He has been well, he has given everything in attack and defence," Zidane added.
“He was a little short physically, hence the change. He will give us a lot from here until the end of the season. We will count on him.”
