Zidane: Bale to stay at Real Madrid

MADRID -- Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Saturday that Welsh international Gareth Bale would not be leaving the club this summer.

Zidane spoke to the press following his side's 3-1 win away to Celta Vigo in their opening league game of the season.

His words come a few weeks after he said in the USA that the "best thing" for both Bale and the club would be if the forward was sold over the summer and subsequently leaving him out of most of his pre-season line-ups.

However, with the English and Chinese transfer markets closed and Phillippe Coutinho joining Bayern Munich, there seems to be little chance of Bale leaving before the end of the month, and with Eden Hazard injured, Bale was a surprise starter on Saturday.

Bale justified his inclusion with an impressive display and helped set up Karim Benzema for Madrid's opening goal of the game.

"He's here with all of us and I am happy about the game that he played and he is going to stay," said Zidane in his post-game press conference.

"The work of Vinicius JR and Gareth has been very good," he insisted, before adding that Real Madrid had, "showed solidarity in their game, we kept out lines close and we were effective with the ball. I am happy with what we have done," he said.

Tony Kroos and Lucas Vazquez scored Madrid's second and third goals of the game and they will now face Valladolid at home next weekend.