Manchester United Transfer News: Zinedine Zidane Answers Gareth Bale Rumours

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has warned Manchester United and any other potential suitors of Gareth Bale that the Welshman "is not for sale."

The Red Devils continue to be linked with a move for the former Tottenham star, as reported by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News. Zidane, who is in charge of Madrid's Castilla side, insists the club won't sell their star, as reported by David McDonnell of the Mirror:

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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.

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Francois Mori/Associated Press

United famously offered Spurs in the region of £100 million to nab Bale before he left for La Liga, but the player's desire took him to the Bernabeu, per McDonnell. Zidane highlighted exactly why he is a key man for the club: "He was a big part of our success last season especially in the Champions League, and as we look to defend our title I am sure he will play a successful part again."

Bale has endured something of a troubled season. His 15 goals and eight assists across 34 appearances in the Spanish division and Champions League can't exactly be scoffed at but certain traits of his game continue to frustrate many Madrid fans.

He was labelled a "ball hog" after failing to set Cristiano Ronaldo up with a simple tap-in back in January, while his lack of defensive contribution has also produced jeers from the stands. From an outside view, the criticism appears ridiculous—this is a man who scored vital goals in the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals last season—but such are the standards in the Spanish capital.

B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Stan Collymore recently discussed Bale's troubles:

There's the sense that Bale would be given greater attacking freedom at Old Trafford. United manager Louis van Gaal desperately needs a forward who combines lightning pace and power to break beyond the opposition's defensive line. Bale proved he is more than capable of leading a Premier League attack while at White Hart Lane.

In January, he admitted to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser a switch to the Theatre of Dreams is unlikely, per Sky Sports: "I can't imagine myself at Manchester United. I've got several years left on my contract, I'm enjoying myself, we're winning trophies and I want to keep doing that here at Real."

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Zidane's warning hardly comes as a surprise. Madrid aren't going to let the world know the sport's most expensive star is up for grabs at this point of the season, even if they are considering selling him.

Should President Florentino Perez wish to make an annual splash with world-class signings of his own, players such as Bale could be first in the firing line. This is particularly true if United offer a mega-sum to bring him back to England.