Gareth Bale has been axed from Real Madrid’s 22-man squad for their final La Liga game of the season amid speculation he could return to the Premier League.

Bale appears to be on his way out of Madrid this summer, with Newcastle United having been linked with a move for the Wales if a proposed Saudi-led takeover of the club is approved.

The 31-year-old has also been linked with a return to former club Tottenham, while Manchester United have been suggested as a possible destination numerous times in recent years.

And a return to English football may have moved a step closer after Bale was left out for the newly crowned Spanish champions’ La Liga clash away at Leganes on Sunday night.

Reports have suggested Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is desperate to move Bale on in the summer transfer window.

The forward could be seen celebrating awkwardly when Real sealed the Spanish title against Villarreal on Thursday, standing to one side as his team-mates jubilantly threw Zidane in the air.

Since the season resumed in June, Bale has made just two appearances for Los Blancos – and has failed to feature in their last six games.

Bale was snapped watching last Monday’s win over Granada from the stands through pretend binoculars, while was also seen pretending to fall asleep with a face mask over his eyes during Madrid’s 2-0 win over Alaves three days before that.

His antics angered some fans, while Bale’s former Tottenham teammate Dimitar Berbatov accused the Welshman of “disrespecting” Real Madrid.

“Gareth Bale is in the headlines again for pretending to sleep in the stands when he found out he was going to be an unused substitute,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“When I saw it I couldn’t believe it. I watched him put his mask over his eyes and pretend to be asleep.

“I cannot support that. It is unprofessional and disrespectful to Real Madrid.

“Madrid need to find a solution to the Bale saga. It’s not good for Bale or the team.”

At one stage last summer, Bale appeared set to switch to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, but the move fell through.

source:- allfootball