Gareth Bale unhappy at Rafa Benitez sacking by Real MadridBy Andy Thompson
Last Updated: 05/01/16 8:51am
Gareth Bale is among a group of Real Madrid players who are upset that Rafael Benitez has been sacked, according to Sky sources.Benitez was fired on Monday evening, with Zinedine Zidane immediately installed as his replacement on a two-and-a-half year contract.
Bale is said to be 'devastated' and is seeking reassurances about where he figures in Zidane's plans for the team.Despite Real's overall struggles,
Wales international Bale was flourishing under Benitez with nine goals and seven assists in 13 La Liga appearances.
While established stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos said to resent Benitez's disciplinarian approach,
Bale had no such concerns and was enjoying the more central role he was deployed in.Benitez lost only three of his 25 games and also took Real into the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare but his team were outclassed in a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in November and he never recovered.
A 2-2 draw to Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday, which left Real third in the table, sealed his fate.
Zidane's ascension to manager will please players such as Isco, who was largely used as a substitute by Benitez, and James Rodriguez who was unhappy with his playing time earlier in the season.
What role Bale has under Zidane remains to be seen but the Frenchman has been a big advocate of the Welshman in the past and championed his credentials prior to his world-record transfer to Madrid from Tottenham.
He was also quick to dismiss any possibility Bale might leave the club last summer after an, at times, difficult second season.
Speaking in April 2015, Zidane said: "Real Madrid buy the best players in the world. They don't sell them.
"Of course other clubs will be interested in him, he would improve any squad in the world, but the president has said he is not for sale and that is because he is not for sale. That will be the answer to Manchester United or any other club that asks the question.
"He was a big part of our success last season, especially in the Champions League."
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10119674/gareth-bale-unhappy-at-rafa-benitez-sacking-by-real-madrid