Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has opened up on his client’s relationship with those at Real Madrid and blasted “so-called experts”.
His representative says the Wales star’s relationship with Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane has always been a good one.
The Welshman has been the subject of fierce criticism from some Madridistas in recent seasons.
He has regularly been criticised for not being able to speak Spanish, something Jonathan Barnett confirms simply isn’t true.
More recently, he felt the wrath of the Spanish media for dancing with the now infamous ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.’ flag after Wales beat Hungary 2-0 in November, a result that saw Ryan Giggs’ side qualify for Euro 2020.
It comes after Bale came close to securing a move away from the La Liga giants last summer, although his switch to Chinese Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning collapsed at the final hurdle.
At the time of the failed transfer, Barnett boldly claimed that Frenchman Zidane didn’t even like the Cardiff-born ace.
“It’s simple, Zidane doesn’t like Gareth,” Barnett said at the time.
“There’s no relationship between them. There never has been.”
Zidane himself publicly stated that it would be best for all parties if Bale departed the club in the 2019 summer transfer window.
“We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team,” revealed Zidane in July last year.
“I have nothing personal against him, but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done.
“I have to make decisions. We have to change. The exit is the coach’s decision, and also of the player, who knows the situation.
“The situation will change, I do not know if in 24 or 48 hours, but it will – and it’s a good thing for everyone.”
Bale’s influence at Real Madrid has waned in recent seasons under Zidane, with the Wales star scoring just three times in his 18 appearances for the club in all competitions so far this term.
But in an explosive radio interview, Barnett now claims Bale’s relationship with those at the club – including Zidane – has always been positive.
“They don’t do their work properly. Not all journalists but most don’t do their homework properly, they don’t research it, they just copy each other and write, say things that they think people want to hear and most of the time it’s complete rubbish,” he told TalkSport.
“It’s very annoying. Nothing bad has ever come out of Real Madrid about Gareth Bale, Zinedine Zidane has never said anything really bad about Gareth Bale but the press keep on and on, keep making things up.
“So-called experts come onto television time and time again saying the biggest problem with Gareth is that he doesn’t speak Spanish, and it’s a disgrace.
“Those people have never met him, never asked anybody, so I have no idea where they get this opinion. Gareth speaks Spanish, so I don’t want to hear these so-called experts who make complete idiots of themself.
“I also blame the TV companies who bring them on, how can an expert on Bale speak about him when they’ve never met him and they wouldn’t even recognise him half the time. It’s a joke.
“[The relationship with Real Madrid] has always been good. I’ve had the most fantastic relationship with the president, the chief executive, Zidane, they’ve obviously said words with each other but everybody has an argument, it’s never been personal and it’s never been bad. We’re all on good speaking terms.”
It comes after Barnett stated Bale was happy in the Spanish capital amid transfer interest from the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United.
The agent said the 30-year-old is not currently considering a Premier League move and that Bale could even see out the remainder of his career in Madrid.
