Bale & James Not Ready to Return to Madrid Squad - Zidane

Bale & James Not Ready to Return to Madrid Squad - Zidane

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez will be available to return after the international break, with both men still fighting their way back to full fitness.

Muscle problems will keep both players out of Saturday's La Liga game against Eibar despite them being called up to their respective national teams.

Wales winger Bale, 30, has not played a single minute since a Euro 2020 qualifier close to a month ago , while 28-year-old midfielder James has missed Madrid's past three matches.

The pair have started individual fitness programmes but will not be considered for selection until they are able to complete full training sessions alongside the rest of the first team.

"They haven't been fit enough to play," Zidane said at Friday's pre-match news conference.

"If they're going to go [away on international duty], they're going to go. They've got five or six days to see if they're fit enough to play for their country. They're not fit enough to play on Saturday.

"They haven't trained with the team. They've been training a little but not at the same pace as their team-mates. If players aren't training with their team-mates they can't play.
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