CRISTIANO RONALDO wants Gareth Bale to be left out of Real Madrid’s starting XI for tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Juventus (7.45pm), it has been claimed.
The Champions League is Real Madrid’s final hope of lifting any major silverware this season after a wretched La Liga campaign and early Copa del Rey exit.
There are a number of question marks about the team that head coach Zinedine Zidane will name for the quarter-final first leg against Juventus.
Bale played his way into contention by bagging a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Las Palmas.
But, according to Don Balon, Ronaldo wants the Wales international benched in Turin.
The Spanish publication claim Ronaldo does not believe Bale is ‘prepared mentally’ for such a high-profile game.
Speaking after the Las Palmas win, Zidane refused to confirm whether Bale would start against Juventus.
“We move on,” he said. “You will see on Tuesday. I am happy with his performance, that’s all.”
According to Don Balon, Ronaldo also hopes to see Isco left out of the starting XI.
He reportedly believes the playmaker slows the play down too much and that pace is needed to beat the Italian champions.
Marco Asensio is said to be Ronaldo’s preferred choice to play alongside himself and Karim Benzema in attack.
Zidane is only missing one member of his first-team squad after Nacho was ruled out for two weeks with a thigh injury.
Real Madrid beat Juventus in last season’s Champions League final in Cardiff.
Source:www.express.co.uk