Agent: Zidane a 'disgrace' for pushing Bale toward exit

Hours after Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane showed Gareth Bale the door, the player's agent, Jonathan Barnett, accused the Frenchman of disrespecting his client.

"Zidane is a disgrace to speak like that about someone who has done so much for Real," Barnett told ESPN FC. "If and when Gareth goes, it will be because it is in the best interest of Gareth and nothing to do with Zidane pushing."

After Madrid's 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday, Zidane expressed hope that Bale's departure would happen soon, adding that it would be "best for everyone."

He said Bale was excluded from the preseason match so the club could work on a transfer, but potential suitors remain scarce. Marca reported last Monday that Tottenham would be prepared to pay €50-60 million to re-sign the 30-year-old, but not his gargantuan €17-million salary.

Bale, who's won four Champions League titles with Madrid, is still under contract with Los Blancos until 2022.