New Real Madrid player Gareth Bale was put on the bench for Wales' World Cup qualifier against Macedonia on Friday where the team lost 2-1, as boss Chris Coleman thought he had concerns over his fitness.
According to Sport24, Bale joined up with his country on Monday after the completion of his long-awaited switch from Tottenham Hotspur to Madrid and the 24-year-old has not played any football since July due to a combination of injury and anxiety about risking further damage with the Madrid move on the horizon.
Madrid paid a world-record fee of 86 million for Bale, but Spanish estimates put the fee at around 77 million, the report said.
Meanwhile, Sam Ricketts won his 50th cap as he partnered skipper Ashley Williams in the Welsh defence, while David Vaughan came in for the injured Joe Allen in midfield along with Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, the report added.
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