Zinedine Zidane insists he's not trying to "bull****" anyone over Gareth Bale's recent appearance in London, stating that the forward had permission from Real Madrid to go.
The Welshman was spotted in the English capital on Monday, leading to several reports that he was holding talks with his agent in a bid to revive the summer transfer talks that almost took him to China.
But Zidane say that Bale was allowed to go to the UK to deal with a personal issue, and as he's injured anyway the fact that the trip is in close proximity to Wednesday's home game with Leganes isn't an issue.
"It's a very simple case," said Zidane at Tuesday's press conference before that Leganes game, via Marca .
"He has asked the club for permission for a personal issue.
"I can't go into these things, I'm not giving you bull****."
Bale hasn't played for Real since sustaining an injury in Wales' 1-1 draw with Croatia on October 13, and despite a public falling out in the summer, Zidane insists there is no problem between the pair.
"We have a good relationship, I've not spoken to him about leaving and he never talks about it either," he said.
"He had permission from the club to travel, he is away because he's injured. He can't play, and when he is available to play, he does, and he has played many games.
"He tries hard and trains well, but the mess here is created by a lot of talk, but the player is 100 percent committed.
"Bale is a Madrid player and I count on him, when he is back playing we will all be happy.
"There are medical matters and everyone has a right to speak, but there are very qualified people who are working with him and we do things very carefully.
"I believe he is happy with the people working here, I haven't seen him complain much."
