Zinedine Zidane has made no attempt to discuss Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid future with the Wales forward or explain his desire to try to force the player away from the Bernabéu.

Bale came off the bench to score in Real’s pre-season friendly against Arsenal just days after Zidane had confirmed he wanted the 30-year-old to leave.

Zidane’s stance is understood to have mystified Real president Florentino Pérez, but Zidane is refusing to back down and insisted “nothing has changed” despite Bale’s goal against the Gunners and Marco Asensio's long-term injury.

The Real manager has also accused Bale of refusing to play against Bayern Munich, which has driven an even greater wedge between the two who are not on speaking terms.

Chinese clubs, including Beijing Guoan and Jiangsu Suning, have shown an interest in Bale but know they would have to pay him over £1million-a-week to convince him to move.

The Chinese transfer window shuts next Wednesday, which still leaves the prospect of Bale staying at Madrid if no big European club can match or better his £600,000-a-week Real wages.