Gareth Bale makes Real Madrid comeback… but misses out on bizarre tree trophy after penalties loss to Roma
GARETH BALE must have twigged his Real Madrid days were numbered – but after shining on a shock recall he just missed out on a bizarre tree trophy.
Bernabeu chief Zinedine Zidane has been pining to get rid of the Welshman but Bale came on during a 2-2 pre-season draw with Roma, only for the Italians to win the Mabel Green Cup in a penalty shootout.
Zidane had suggested Bale, who does not want to be uprooted from Spain, would never play for Real again.
And the Frenchman left him out of last month’s Audi Cup in Germany, saying the 30-year-old was not in the right mental state to play.
But it was Bernabeu president Florentino Perez who suddenly pulled the plug on Bale joining Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning two weeks ago on £1million-a-week wages.
Instead, ex-Spurs frontman Bale looked lively in a 30-minute run-out during Real’s final friendly, calmly slotting home his shootout spot-kick.
Roma, though, won 5-4 on penalties to lift the unique trophy.
Brazilians Marcelo Vieira and Casemiro had twice put Real in front during normal time.
But Roma levlled on both occasions, through Argentina winger Diego Perotti and former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko on 40 minutes.
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For Bale, however, the contest was all about impressing enough to earn the chance of a shock place in Real’s squad for their La Liga opener at Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Yet he has seemed on his way out of the Bernabeu ever since Zidane returned as boss in March.
Si if Bale is to complete an incredible return to favour, it is perhaps not just him who has to turn over a new leaf.