(Football news) Real Madrid are about to play against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu where they need just 1 point to secure their 35th La Liga title. Los Blancos host Manchester City on Wednesday in the 2nd leg of UCL semi finals where Madrid need to overcome a 1 goal deficit. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rest most if not all of his first choice players for the clash. It was at this point when Carlo Ancelotti would've wanted Gareth Bale to step up in his final season as a Real Madrid player and get a decent farewell.

Bale however hasn't been included in the matchday squad as the player himself requested to be removed with an apparent back problem. This isn't the first time that the Welshman has been a last minute change in the squad. The Spanish press and Real Madrid fans have often accused Bale of prioritising his fitness for international duty and somewhat missing Madrid matches for even the smallest problems. In the 2019/20 season when Zinedine Zidane led Real Madrid to the La Liga title, Gareth Bale had been out of favour upon which he requested Zidane to not include him in the squad to which the manager agreed.

Bale is said to be disappointed with Carlo Ancelotti and feels that he should have been given more chances earlier especially after his incredible performance with Wales in the World Cup qualifier play off against Austria. Now Real Madrid are said to be studying the matter as Bale had trained normally for the whole week without any complaints and has asked to be left out of the squad at the last minute. The agenda of Real Madrid and its fans disrespecting Gareth Bale has taken the attention away from Bale's injury problems and poor attitude which is the reason that his legacy at Real Madrid has been tarnished.

Now the club could punish Bale financially and could even terminate his contract. The reasons for Bale's actions could be because of the treatment he got at the Bernabéu in the last game. Bale came on as a substitute for Karim Benzema in the last 16 minutes. The Welshman was welcomed on the pitch with loud boos and whistles which isn't the first time he has got that kind of a reception. His contribution to Real Madrid has been immense but the antics after 2018 have resulted in a love/hate relationship with the fans. Failure to secure a move away from the Bernabeu has further fueled the hatred.

Also read: Will Reece James even consider leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid?