Gareth Bale Agent Talks Love Between Player and Real Madrid, Denies Exit Rumours

Jonathan Barnett, agent of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, has insisted the player and club share a mutual love for one another amid rumours of a possible departure from the Spanish capital. 

Per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, Bale has been linked with a return to the Premier League this summer after falling somewhat out of favour with Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane, but Barnett has moved to quash such speculation.

"Gareth is a Real Madrid player and loves Real Madrid, and Real Madrid love Gareth," the agent said. "All this talk about leaving is written by reporters who have no idea what is going on and who need to write something and don't care if it is true or not."

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Bale was restricted to playing just 36 minutes across the two legs of Real's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain. He was also left on the bench against Juventus in the first leg of the quarter-final, albeit that could have changed had Real, who won 3-0, been in need of goals.

He has also come in for criticism from former Madrid striker, coach and sporting director Jorge Valdano, who does not believe the Welshman has lived up to his price tag since joining in 2013 for a then world-record fee of £85.3 million:

According to Barnett, however, the officials still at the club do not feel the same way.

The winger has notched 81 goals and 59 assists in 181 appearances for Los Merengues, though injuries have perhaps hampered him from reaching his true potential at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bale has missed 14 games this season because of fitness issues but has nevertheless managed to contribute 14 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

He played the full 90 minutes in Real's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Sunday and was initially criticised by Managing Madrid's Kiyan Sobhani:

However, he was named man of the match after providing the assist for Cristiano Ronaldo's strike, per WhoScored.com:

In recent times it seems that Bale will not become the heir to Ronaldo's throne in Madrid. He's too injury-prone and does not have Zidane's full backing in Real's biggest games.

There's evidently still plenty he can contribute at Real when he is fit, and he has a contract at the club until 2022, but much will depend on whether he can regain his automatic starting berth in key clashes or how long he's prepared to accept a lesser role if he's unable to.