When Zinedine Zidane humiliated Gareth Bale by leaving him in the stands for Real Madrid's first friendly of the pre-season and then admitted publicly that the sooner he leaves the better, he had one thing in mind – force the player's exit.
When Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett responded, calling Zidane a 'disgrace' it seemed to have worked – how can Bale possibly continue at Real Madrid? But the problem remains: where will he go?
Everywhere the club and the player turn there are huge obstacles to a straightforward departure from Spain.