Real Madrid news: Gareth Bale admits transfer speculation making him play with ‘a lot of emotion and anger’

The Welshman was set for the Bernabeu exit this summer but has since worked his way back into Zinedine Zidane’s plans

Gareth Bale admits he is playing with "a lot of emotion and anger" at Real Madrid after his treatment and transfer speculation.

Bale was close to leaving the Bernabeu this summer, with Zinedine Zidane appearing to push him towards the exit, but the 30-year-old's reported move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning fell through.

A combination of injuries, form to his teammates and Zidane reassessing the Welshman has led to Bale working his way back into the Real first team.

With two goals and two assists in six matches, Bale is working his way back towards his best, but insists it has been a difficult period.

"You play with a lot of emotion, and anger comes into it, but I'm just trying to play football, enjoy it as much as I can and give my best," Bale told reporters ahead of Wales' Euro 2020 qualifier in Slovakia on Thursday.

"Whenever I step onto the pitch I give 100% to help the team ... I love meeting up with Wales. I haven't got anything to clear my mind about."

Wales manager Ryan Giggs suggested Bale's situation at the club had improved.

"It would have unsettled him because it was apparently very close for him going," Giggs said.

Gareth Bale admits he is playing with anger right now (Action Images via Reuters)

"Things do change quickly in football and now he's playing, he's loved, he's happy, and I expect him to carry on doing what he's doing for Real."

Wales are fourth in Group E with six points, but have a game in hand over leaders Croatia (10 points), Slovakia and Hungary (nine points each).

Reuters contributed to this report