Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Gareth Bale could play some minutes in Saturday's La Liga contest with Villarreal.

The Wales international has only made three appearances for Los Blancos this season, with his last outing for the club coming against Real Betis last August.

Bale has been unavailable for long stages of the season due to injury and COVID-19, but the 32-year-old has been on the bench for Real Madrid's last two La Liga games.

Ancelotti has insisted that his "personal relationship" with the attacker "is very good", and the Italian has said that the former Southampton youngster is "ready to play".

"My personal relationship with him is very good, he is committed. But it's one thing what you see out on the training pitch and another in matches," Ancelotti told reporters.

"He seems ready to play to me. When I do decide to play him, he will deliver. Some people might ask me why I don't play him more often and I understand that. But during the last 15 days he's been training with more intensity. He's ready."

Bale is out of contract at Real Madrid this summer and has allegedly agreed a deal to return to former club Tottenham Hotspur despite talk of a possible retirement.