And Coleman refuses to be drawn on speculation linking Bale with Real Madrid.
Wales boss Chris Coleman says he expects Tottenham’s Gareth Bale to feature in next week’s friendly against Republic of Ireland and has refused to comment on the forward’s potential move to Real Madrid.
Bale, 24, was included in Coleman’s Wales squad for the match at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday 14 August, despite missing the majority of Spurs’ pre-season matches through injury.
There has been some suggestion in the media that Bale is reluctant to feature for the North London outfit as he looks to push through a world-record move to the Spanish capital.
But Coleman said he was expecting the player to report for international duty next week.
“We know he’s not done a lot this pre-season but as a nation we pick our strongest squad and Gareth is in that strongest squad,” Coleman told Sky Sports News.
“Until we’re told otherwise, we’re expecting to see Gareth.”
When asked if he had spoken to Bale about the prospect of joining Real, Coleman replied:
“No. I don’t really get involved in players’ transfers.
“It’ll be up to Gareth and Tottenham Hotspur where he goes. He may be in a better physical condition for us if he went to Spain, because the Premier League is very demanding.
“But whether he’s playing his football in England or Spain, it doesn’t matter.”
When asked, Coleman refused to be drawn on whether Bale would be a success at the Santiago Bernabeu and stressed the former Southampton man is not the first star player to represent Wales.
“We mustn’t forget some of the players we’ve had in the past. Neville Southall, Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes. It’s not the first time we’ve had world class players in our ranks. We’ve had world star players representing us before and Bale fits into that.
“What is new is the transfer fee. If it [a move to Real Madrid] does happen, he’ll be the most expensive player in the history of football.”
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