MADRID, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane had to field several questions about Welsh international striker Gareth Bale on Tuesday as he faced the press ahead of Wednesday's Liga Santander game at home to Leganes.
Bale will miss the game as he continues to recover from a calf injury, but was in the headlines again this week after making a visit to London and also revelations that he has asked the club not to publish its medical reports when he is injured.
Zidane defended Bale saying he had a "good relationship" with the player. "He is a player that is here, that trains. If he is not available, he is not available."
"There is a lot of talk, but in the end the important thing is that when he is ready and 100 percent, we know what kind of player he is."
Zidane said Bale had "had permission from the club" to go to London and that there was "no story" attached to it. "It was a personal issue and he had permission from the club," he insisted.
Tuesday's edition of Spanish sports paper Diario Marca had as its front page headline a story that Bale wants to join Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in January, but his current coach said he knew nothing about a possible move.
"He has never talked about wanting to leave. When he can train, he trains and when he can play, he plays and he has played a lot this year," said Zidane.
"An offer is not going to come, I don't think about that. He is a Real Madrid player, in January there will be talk, and then in June. I will count on him when he is ready to play. Everyone is happy with him," he concluded.