Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is keeping the fitness of Gareth Bale out of the public arena.

Perez, reports Diario Gol, has told all club officials not to discuss the Wales international's injury problems.

Bale has been missing for 23 days since suffering a calf strain and as yet no return date has been made public. It's been suggested he could be back in mid-November, however there is nothing confirmed.

Real coach Zinedine Zidane, on the president's orders, will refuse to consider naming a return date in his upcoming media conferences.

Meanwhile, the decision has already been made: Bale will be sold in 2018.