Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane used Saturday's pre-match press conference to hint that Sunday's final La Liga game of the season could be Welsh forward Gareth Bale's last for the club.
Zidane said there would be changes to his line-up against Real Betis with Bale having been left out of Real's last two matches against Villarreal and Real Sociedad.
Zidane said Bale would be in the squad against Betisbut, asked by reporters if it would be his last game for Madrid, he said: "I don't know, I can't tell you. It's the season finale and next year there are going to be changes. But I don't know what is going to happen."
Bale fell out with Zidane towards the end of the Frenchman's first spell in charge in May 2018 and their relationship has quickly soured again after Zidane replaced Santiago Solari in the Madrid dugout in March.
Madrid face Betis at the Bernabeu in their final match of a campaign that will see them finish third, behind both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and with only one trophy - the Fifa Club World Cup won in the UAE in December. Madrid were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barca and the Champions League by Ajax in four days just over a week before Zidane returned to the club.
Zidane has pledged to make changes once the campaign is over, with several players including Bale expected to be sold, and defended his right to make the big calls.
"It's my decision," Zidane told reporters. "That is clear as water. I'm the coach and I will always do what I want to do. If not, I'll leave.
"For signings and those sorts of things we have people who work on them but we work together."
Zidane took charge with Madrid's season all-but over and their performances have fizzled out in recent weeks.
Their defeat by Real Sociedad last weekend means they have lost two of their last three matches and won only three of their last eight.
"The message is clear, it is the last game and we want to say goodbye to the fans with a good game and a victory," said Zidane.
"It has been a complicated year and I want to convey that we are looking ahead to next season and to show the fans that we will return with enthusiasm to make them proud of the team again."
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
