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Zinedine Zidane has claimed Gareth Bale no longer wants to leave Real Madrid and will play an important role at the club this season.
Bale, 30, came close to moving to the Chinese Super League this summer only for Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to pull the plug on the move.
He has since been reintegrated into the Real first-team and has started both of the club’s La Liga matches this season.
“What has changed is that the player wants to stay, nothing more,” Zidane said after the club’s 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid on Saturday,
“What is interesting for us, in the first place, is that the player wants to stay at the club, that is the most important thing.
Show all 21 1 /21European transfer sagas European transfer sagas European transfer sagas The English transfer window may have closed but a number of big money players could still switch clubs this month. Here are the 20 European transfer sagas you need to be aware of.
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European transfer sagas Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona) Persistently linked with a move away from Barcelona. Recent reports in Spain speculate that he could be used as a makeweight in Barcelona's attempt to sign Neymar.
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European transfer sagas Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) Arsenal and Tottenham both investigated the possibility of signing the Brazilian on loan. Now in talks with Bayern Munich.
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European transfer sagas Bruno Fernandes (Sporting) His representatives had talks with both Manchester United and Tottenham before the English transfer deadline. Now looks destined to stay at Sporting for another summer.
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European transfer sagas Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt) The Croatia international is a target for various Italian clubs although Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic said this week the club are yet to recieve any offer.
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European transfer sagas Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Liverpool's fourth-choice centre-back now looks destined to leave the club. In talks with Roma over a £15m move.
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European transfer sagas Rodrigo (Valencia) Atletico Madrid are close to agreeing a €60m deal for the 28-year-old, who scored 14 goals in 50 appearances for Valencia last season.
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European transfer sagas Paulo Dybala (Juventus) Had talks with Manchester United. Came close to signing for Tottenham Hotspur. Could yet leave for Paris Saint-Germain, particularly if they sell Neymar.
REUTERS
European transfer sagas Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) Real Madrid are desperate to offload the 30-year-old but have had difficulty in finding a suitor, particularly after Florentino Pérez pulled the plug on a cut-price move to the Chinese Super League.
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European transfer sagas Fernando Llorente (Tottenham) The veteran striker is a free agent after his Tottenham contract expired. Currently in talks with Serie A side Napoli.
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European transfer sagas Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) Had talks with various clubs before signing a new long-term contract with Ajax this week.
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European transfer sagas Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the 20-year-old and could make a move before their September transfer deadline. His transfer fee would almost certainly surpass the £71.6m Chelsea paid for Kepa.
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European transfer sagas Joel Veltman (Ajax) The defender was a target for West Ham and came close to a move to the Premier League. Could yet leave Ajax but now looks more likely to stay.
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European transfer sagas Donny van de Beek (Ajax) Another player linked with Real Madrid. "If he moves to Madrid, I am really happy for him. I think he deserves it," former team-mate Frenkie de Jong said this week.
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European transfer sagas Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan) Recently stripped of the No.9 shirt and in talks with a number of clubs. But his image rights are proving obstructive to a move out of Milan. Now where have we heard that before ... ?
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European transfer sagas Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) Missed Arsenal's opening match of the season because of security concerns and there is a chance he will move to DC United, to replace Wayne Rooney.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
European transfer sagas James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich) Real Madrid are desperate to offload him. Napoli were in talks but couldn't finance a move. Looking increasingly likely he will remain in Spain for another season, at least.
REUTERS
European transfer sagas Serge Aurier (Tottenham) Has reportedly told team-mates he wants to quit Spurs after falling behind Kyle Walker-Peters and Juan Foyth in the pecking order.
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
European transfer sagas Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) Barcelona are exploring a loan deal for Neymar, in order to bring him in this summer before a permanent move.
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European transfer sagas Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) Will sit down for talks with Spurs this month after a move away failed to materalise. Could leave this summer. Or could see out the season in north London before leaving on a lucrative free transfer.
Action Images via Reuters
European transfer sagas Paul Pogba (Manchester United) Manchester United are desperate to keep him but Real Madrid may make a move before the end of the window. Pogba certainly hopes so: “This question mark remains,” he said after United's opening match of the season. “Obviously there have been things said, but only time will tell.”
REUTERS
“Now, there have been a lot of things said about this situation and I have talked about it too, but the most important thing is that the player wants to stay and we are counting on him.
“He is a really important player for us and he has demonstrated that and right now he has to keep doing what he has done.”
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