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Gareth Bale risks further Real Madrid rift over Wales flag

MARCA poll states Bale showed 'a lack of respect for the club and fans'

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Gareth Bale celebrates Euro 2020 qualification with his team-mates by singing and parading a Wales flag which reads 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.'

Gareth Bale has risked angering Real Madrid further after posing with a Wales flag which read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order."

Bale has been criticised in Spain for prioritising international football - and even a round of golf - over club duties, having not played for Real since October 5.

The 30-year-old helped Wales qualify for Euro 2020 on Tuesday night - assisting Aaron Ramsey for the opening goal in the decisive 2-0 win over Hungary - and the celebrations will have done his club future no favours.

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Highlights of Wales’ 2-0 win over Hungary in Group E of the Euro 2020 Qualifiers

Bale had already admitted he found chants of 'Wales. Golf. Madrid' amusing, and could not help but get involved.

He was filmed behind the Wales flag brandishing the mantra while celebrating with his team-mates on the pitch in the Welsh capital after his side's win over Hungary.

The gesture has not been well received in the Spanish media, the majority of voters in a MARCA poll stated Bale showed "a lack of respect for the club and fans."

MARCA also said Real would not punish Bale, because the relationship between the player and Zidane is "broken for good".

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AS' headline read: "Bale is 'mocking' Madrid with the 'Wales. Golf. Madrid' flag", while SPORT queried whether Bale should be punished by his club.

Real Madrid have yet to make any comment on the banner.

Amid a falling out with Zinedine Zidane, the forward came close to leaving the Bernabeu for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning in the summer transfer window, in a deal that would have seen the 30-year-old earn £1m-a-week.

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Aaron Ramsey returned to the Wales starting XI in a year and popped up with both goals in Wales’ 2-0 win over Hungary that sent Wales to Euro 2020

Since then, Zidane has stated he wants Bale to remain at Real for the remainder of the season, despite reports linking him with a move away to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Sky Sports News understands Real are also preparing to table a bid for Manchester City's Raheem Sterling with Bale plus £70m offered in the proposed package.

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