It was a surreal moment on Saturday when Gareth Bale entered Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the 67th minute to a torrent of boos and jeers from the Santiago Bernabéu. Los Blancos supporters are a notoriously demanding bunch — even Cristiano Ronaldo received his share of whistles inside the legendary stadium — but nothing comes close to the reception that Bale was given upon replacing 18-year-old Brazilian phenom Rodrygo.
Bale has always been seen as an outsider at Real — his Spanish remains elementary despite having spent over six years in Madrid, he’s been known to prefer a round of golf over team building exercises and he looked destined for a transfer to China this past summer only for Real to scupper the deal.
Things came to a fracture over the November international break after Wales clinched Euro 2020 qualification following a dramatic 2-0 victory over Hungary in Cardiff. Bale was seen celebrating with his teammates while carrying around a Wales flag adorned with the words “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.”
'Disrespectful. Misguided. Ungrateful. In that order.'
The Spanish media aren't happy with this Gareth Bale's banner.Read: https://t.co/9tFmBOSUvi#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/r5DpP5e2lE
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 21, 2019
Despite his record as a four-time Champions League winner with Real (he’s scored three goals, plus a penalty in a shootout, in four UCL finals to go along with that ridiculous goal in the final of the 2013-14 Copa del Rey), Bale’s injury-plagued 2018-19 campaign saw a return of only 11 goals from 36 LaLiga/UCL appearances.
A Tottenham return has also been rumored, and with former Real boss José Mourinho now in charge at Hotspur Stadium, that possibility seems more likely than ever. However, Mourinho has claimed that there’s no money to spend in January and he’s happy with the current squad at his disposal.
What’s more, Zidane certainly doesn’t want to sell Bale before the business end of the season. Despite the hostile reception he was given, Bale immediately helped Real score its third goal on Saturday and then almost scored a wonderful solo goal.
The man is still a singular being with regards to his pace, strength and ability in the attacking third, and although Real supporters responded with a banner that read: “Rodrygo. Vini. Lucas. Bale. In that order,” Zidane probably doesn’t agree with that list.
“I hope this doesn’t carry on for the rest of the season,” Zidane said after the game. “We want the fans to be with us from the beginning to the end, but we cannot control that. The public has the right to do what they want, but I ask that they applaud everyone. I’m happy with the game and the victory and Bale came into the game well. What you have to do is keep working on the pitch.
“I have not spoken to him, I have only congratulated him. I can’t tell you if it’s unfair or not. Everyone can say what they want. We need our fans, then we can’t control what happens. There is too much noise with Bale, he wants to be with us and do it well. That is why we don’t want to talk so much. He is integrated into the group and wants to play, just like everyone else.”
Bale has two goals and two assists in seven LaLiga games. Rodrygo has two goals in five appearances, Vinicius has one goal and one assist in eight games and Lucas Vazquez has one goal and one assist in seven appearances, but Lucas is out for a month after dropping a dumbbell on his foot and breaking his toe.
Eden Hazard still only has one goal from eight games and is probably pretty happy that Bale is currently taking all the heat off him. Karim Benzema is doing it all with 10 goals and four assists in 12 games.
Real and Barcelona are at the top of the table with 28 points from 13 games, but Barcelona currently has the advantage with regards to goal difference (+19 to +18). This season’s first El Clasico takes place on Dec. 18 at the Camp Nou.
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