Real Madrid are reportedly preparing to offload Gareth Bale in the summer but Alvaro Arbeloa believes the Welshman still has a future with the club.
Another injury-hit campaign has blighted Bale’s ability to gather any sort of momentum this season – a stark contrast to the rumours of an exit which are beginning to gather pace.
Manchester United have previously been linked with a blockbuster move for the Wales winger and will likely head the queue should Real decide to sell.
However, Arbeloa has warned against such a situation and is adamant the 28-year-old deserves an extended stay with Los Blancos.
“I wouldn’t sell Gareth Bale. I don’t think he has run out of credit, or that he is in a bad moment,” said the former Madrid defender at the presentation of the Mambo FC web series.
“If I were [Zinedine] Zidane, I would try to make sure everyone is in a good moment and try to take care of Gareth Bale to make sure he arrived at the end of the season well because everyone knows the problem he has had with injuries.”
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Madrid host Alaves at the Bernabeu on Saturday fresh from their midweek 3-1 win over Leganes.
Dani Ceballos was brought on for just 29 seconds before the final whistle in the victory and is reportedly unhappy with the late substitution.
The Spain U21 midfielder has struggled to get much game time following his summer arrival from Real Betis and has been linked with a transfer away this summer.
Arbeloa doubts there was any issue with his late introduction, however.
“It can never be humiliation for a player to go out and help his team in any way,” he added.
“I went on in a final for Liverpool with six minutes left. Zidane might have needed to stop the clock or to stop the game and if Dani Ceballos is angry, I don’t know, but I hope that he went training in good form so that the next day he can play more minutes.”
