Current sports

Gareth Bale scored in his first pre-season appearance for Real Madrid, but his future at the club remains in doubt.

Bale came off the bench at half-time to net as Real dominate on penalties after a2-2 draw with Arsenal in the International Champions Cup.

After the game in Maryland, coach Zinedine Zidane said: "He put in a good performance and I'm pleased for him."

But the Frenchman added: "Nothing has changed, you know the situation."

Zidane had previously said Bale is "very close to leaving" the club and that his exit would be "best for everyone", claiming it was the Welshman's decision not play in an earlier game against Bayern Munich.

On Bale's appearance against Arsenal, the Real coach added, "He played today, he wanted to and he did a good job.

"He wanted to be with us today; he trained normally and played the match. I make the decisions and he played one half. We'll have to see what happens. He's still here with us at this stage."

Arsenal took a 2-0 lead through Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Real full-back Nacho was sent off in the ninth minute - with Arsenal also reduced to 10 men on 40 minutes when Sokratis was shown a red card.

Real, who had Eden Hazard in the starting line-up, hit back with goals from Bale and Marco Asensio - who was later stretchered off with a knee injury - in the 15 minutes after half-time.
The Wales international also cleared a Calum Chambers shot off the line, but had a weak effort saved easily by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as his side won the shootout 3-2

Bale has been linked with a number of clubs over the summer, including a possible move to the Chinese Super League with a reported £1m a week wage.

Cesc Fabregas has been banned from driving for six months for speeding at 68mph (109km/h) in a 40mph (64km/h) zone.

The Spain international, 32, was caught by a police speed detection device in south-west London on 4 December.

But Fabregas, who now plays for French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco, later told officers "I wasn't going that fast", Wimbledon Magistrates' Court heard.

The World Cup winner pleaded guilty to speeding and was also fined £750.

Fabregas, who already had six points on his licence, was banned after the offence added a further six points to it.

The midfielder moved to Monaco from Chelsea in January after winning two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup in 501 appearances in English football with the Blues and Arsenal - with a spell at Barcelona in between.

Prosecutor Luke Bowyer told the court that on 4 December last year Fabregas was clocked speeding in a grey Land Rover on a section of the A3 near Wandsworth, south-west London.

Representing Fabregas, Natalie Bird said he "would like to offer his sincere apology and remorse" for the offence, which was the result of a "momentary lapse of concentration".

Sentencing, district judge Andrew Sweet said he took into account Fabregas' guilty plea but said the section of the road could get "extremely busy".

Fabregas, who did not attend Thursday's hearing because of "work commitments in Monaco", was also ordered to pay £135 in costs and a £75 victim surcharge.

  OTHER STORIES

Everton have told Crystal Palace they are prepared to bid £60m and include 28-year-old Turkey striker Cenk Tosun as part of a deal for Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha, 26 - but fear they could miss out to Chelsea. 

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has told manager Mauricio Pochettino he will back him in the transfer market after securing a new £320m shirt sponsorship deal, with the club preparing an £80m bid for Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala, 25. 

Manchester United could be forced to meet Leicester City's £80m asking price for England defender Harry Maguire after United's 25-year-old Ivorian centre-back Eric Bailly suffered a knee injury in Thursday's friendly win over Tottenham.

Leicester's 23-year-old English winger Demarai Gray says there is "nothing to worry about" over Maguire and does not believe the defender, 26, is disgruntled that there has been no movement regarding his future. 

Wolves are in talks to sign Real Madrid's Spain Under-21 defender Jesus Vallejo, 22, on a season-long loan, while the club are also close to agreeing a £17m fee with AC Milan for the 21-year-old Italian striker Patrick Cutrone.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale, 30, as a potential transfer target, insisting he is focused on building a team rather than acquiring individuals. 

Southampton's Porto's defender Cedric Soares, 27, is being eyed by Monaco as Ralph Hasenhuttl tries to trim his wage bill at St Mary's. 

Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld's transfer value has increased dramatically after the 30-year-old Belgium centre-back's £25m release clause expired on Thursday.