Zidane: Bale absent due to illness

Zinedine Zidane is claiming Gareth Bale was scratched from Real Madrid's preseason friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday due to illness.

Following the collapse of his proposed move to China, Bale did not travel to Munich for the Audi Cup match, which Spurs won 1-0 thanks to a first-half Harry Kane strike.

British media reported Bale was fuming at the refusal of Real president Florentino Perez to approve his departure, with Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning wanting to acquire the 30-year-old on a free transfer.