Bale ‘cost boss job’
GARETH BALE has been blamed for Real Madrid’s El Clasico humiliation and last night’s sacking of boss Julen Lopetegui.
Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing in Barcelona proved too much for Bernabeu chiefs, with Lopetegui overseeing the club’s worst start to a season since 2001-02.
Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is the favourite to take over.
Real legend Jorge Valdano blasted £86million Bale. He said: “We keep looking at Bale because of his price tag and that’s created this illusion he’s some sort of world superstar. But the last five years aren’t reflective of what Madrid paid for him.”
Lopetegui will be “provisionally replaced” by former Real player Santiago Solari, currently coach of B team Castilla.
Lopetegui has lost two jobs in less than five months. He was fired as Spain coach the day before the World Cup started for not telling the country’s FA he was moving to Real.