Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that Gareth Bale wasn't present during Real Madrid's warm-up ahead of the Champions League final.
Speculation was rife about whether Bale would start in Zinedine Zidane's XI against Liverpool.
Initial reports suggested he was set for a starting role. But when the line-ups where revealed, Zidane had left him on the bench.
The French manager eventually used him as a substitute with devastating effect.
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He put Real Madrid back in front with arguably the greatest goal in a Champions League final, before wrapping up the victory with another strike from long range.
The Welsh winger produced heroics without warming up with his fellow subs.
And it's been revealed why thanks to Spanish expert Guillem Balague.
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According to Balague, "Bale never comes out for warming up when he is not starting and warms up differently to the rest of substitutes."
Despite starring for Real Madrid, and guiding his side to a third consecutive European title, he hinted at a possible future away from the Bernabeu.
"I need to be playing week in, week out, and that has not happened this season," he told BT Sport.
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"I had an injury five, six weeks in but fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it.
"I feel that I need to be playing every week. It's something that I've always wanted to do, something that I feel like I should be doing. If it's not the case here, then it's something I have to really consider and sit down and do.
"I'll do that in the summer. I have plenty of time now to relax, to reflect on things and see where things go."
Manchester United have been heavily linked with Bale's services, and expect that story to rumble on during the summer transfer window.
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Is a return to the Premier League on the cards? Watch this space.
Featured Image Credit: Radio EstadioTopics: Football News, Football, gareth bale, Champions League, Real Madrid
