Gareth Bale finally hits back at claims he has lost muscle mass

Gareth Bale has hit back at fans who suggested he has lost muscle mass on Instagram. 

The 32-year-old has endured another injury-plagued season and has not featured for Real Madrid since August.

But the Welshman was snapped in training last week, though appeared to have lost some muscle mass, looking notably thinner.

The supposed transformation caused several online users to become speechless, with one account comparing the forward's condition over the last half-year.

The side-by-side photo of Bale went viral on social media and compared his current physique to what he looked like during Real’s pre-season campaign last summer.

'At what point did Bale lose so much muscle mass?' one post from a Madrid fan account read. 'Only six months' difference.' 

En qué momento Bale perdió tanta masa muscular? Solo 6 meses de diferencia pic.twitter.com/N1y248Xe04

Bale has finally addressed the photograph by uploading one from another angle from the same session.

The Welshman drew a green arrow pointing at his thigh muscle, now more prominent in the new photo, along with a ‘crying-laughing’ emoji.

He simply added a ‘flexing muscle’ and another ‘crying-laughing’ emoji as his caption and clearly felt he was photographed from an unflattering angle,. 

Real reportedly have no concerns over Bale’s physique or fitness and he excelled in last Thursday's training session, when the photos were taken, according to El Chiringuito journalist Edu Aguirre.

He is reportedly also the fittest member of Los Blancos' squad with no other player coming close to his levels of fitness.

On Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Bale and Eden Hazard could be ready to start Real Madrid's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday. 

Speaking