Zinedine Zidane has never liked Gareth Bale and the pair have never had a working relationship, the Welshman's agent has claimed.

Zidane's attempt to force Bale out of Real Madrid has been the talking point of the summer, with the Welshman's future still hanging in the balance.

There appeared to have been a breakthrough over the weekend, however, with Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning interested in signing the winger.

Zinedine Zidane has never liked Gareth Bale, according to the player's agent Jonathan Barnett

Bale's agent Barnett (right) has been outspoken this summer as he works on his client's future

But Real Madrid reportedly pulled the plug on the move and now Bale looks likely to stay in Spain.

Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, however, has lifted the lid on the fractious relationship the player and the manager have endured over recent years.

'It's simple, Zidane doesn't like Gareth,' Barnett told Le Journal du Dimanche.

'There's no relationship between them. There never has been.'

It is the latest outburst from Barnett, who in recent months has heavily criticised Zidane's treatment of the 30-year-old.

Bale's future at Real Madrid is in the balance, but could play after an injury to Marco Asensio

'Zidane is a disgrace,' he told the AFP earlier this month.

'He shows no respect for a player that has done so much for Real Madrid.'

Bale looks set to stay at the Bernabeu, whether he will see an improvement in game time, however, remains to be seen.

However an injury to Marco Asensio, a nasty rupture of his ACL which is likely to keep him out for most of the season, might just have handed Bale a lifeline in the capital.