Gareth Bale has featured in just six games for Real this season

Rafael Benitez admits Gareth Bale's situation with Wales has been "difficult to manage", but says he is committed to Real Madrid.

Bale played both Euro 2016 Qualifying matches against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Andorra even though he had not started a game for Real for almost a month due to a thigh injury.

He returned to the Real starting line-up against Levante on Saturday but was substituted at half-time and is now sidelined again with another injury.

His decision to play for Wales has led to criticism from some in the Spanish media, with AS journalist Tomas Roncero calling his decision to play against Andorra "irresponsible" and saying he has "mocked" Real Madrid.

"Be patriotic, love your country, but if you are already qualified you don't need to go to the party against Andorra, and play 90 minutes on top of that. It's inadmissible for a Real Madrid player," added Roncero.

While Benitez avoided getting into a club vs country row, he told radio programme El Primer Palo: "He has become such a big idol that it is difficult to manage.

"There is the feeling and affinity people have for their country, with their people. He played this game, and logically we were in contact to know his thinking and that of his national coach."

The Real Madrid head coach also revealed that Bale had wanted to continue against Levante at the weekend.

"The other day, when he came off at half-time, he wanted to continue," Benitez said. "We could see he was fatigued. And when you are tired there is more chance of an injury.

"He wanted to play on, I said no, and we let him rest. Now the most urgent thing is to begin the treatment, and they will tell us what is expected in one or two days."

Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer as Rafael Benitez's side saw off Levante 3-0 to go top of the Primera Division. Cristiano Ronaldo became Real Madrid's all-time top scorer as Rafael Benitez's side saw off Levante 3-0 to go top of the Primera Division.

Bale will miss Real's Champions League clash with Paris St-Germain on Wednesday evening and could also be out for the top-of-the-table clash with Celta Vigo at the weekend.

"Losing a player of his ability is a blow," Benitez told a press conference on Tuesday. "But the team did well in the second half [against Levante] and won the match, which is what matters most.

"He wasn't fully right coming into the dressing room. His stats during the first half look good to us and perhaps exhaustion played a role somehow. He wanted to play on and that shows he's committed".