IT was supposed to be Gareth Bale’s crowning glory.
When the Welsh wizard signed for Real Madrid from Tottenham for a world record fee of £86million, he was touted as a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or crown.
Gareth Bale has had highs and lows at Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Welsh legend’s days at the club appear numbered after falling out with Zinedine ZidaneCredit: Reuters
But, with accusations of failing to mingle with his team-mates, an obsession with golf, and fallouts with boss Zinedine Zidane, it looks like his time with Los Blancos is coming to an end after seven years with the club.
Again, he was left to rot on the substitutes’ bench as his side overcame Granada 2-1 to go within three points of winning La Liga.
And rather than getting the chance to impress on the pitch, he was forced to play class clown using tape as pretend binoculars to entertain himself.
Now 30, Bale has endured his worst campaign in Spain – and any chances of a Premier League return have been ruled out by his agent, who insists he’s happy staying put on his £650,000-per-week wages for now.
There have been highs and lows to Bale’s time at the most successful team in world football.
TEMPERS AND TANTRUMS
Last summer it was reported that Zidane wanted to sell Bale at all costs.
He was expected to move to Jiangsu Suning in China, and according to club officials a deal was 90 per cent completed until Real Madrid performed a sensational u-turn and changed their demands at the last minute.
It was reported that Bale was set to pocket £1million-per-week before tax in salary, until Real demanded a transfer fee rather than release him.
Bale and Zidane’s relationship has since deteriorated as he has been frozen out of the first team.
Bale has been frozen out by Zidane and left on the benchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Against Alaves Bale pretended to nap on the benchCredit: https://www.instagram.com/marca/
According to ESPN, the situation has managed to worsen with their working relationship “at breaking point” and “worse than ever”.
And that’s been evident with Bale starting just once since Project Restart – while he hasn’t scored in La Liga since September 1.
Worse still, Bale has been openly mocking his manager while sitting on the sidelines.
With Real beating Alaves 2-0, he sat slumped in his seat with his coronavirus face mask over his eyes and pretended he had fallen asleep.
The clowning continued against Granada with tape becoming makeshift binoculars.
But one man that wasn’t laughing was Zidane.
HIS GOLFING PERSONA
Nicknamed ‘The Golfer’ by his team-mates, Bale has been criticised for hitting the green when he could have been resting.
He has also made no secret of his love of playing 18 holes and is said to be raring to complete his golf course bucket list with pals when the coronavirus crisis is over.
But it has left him open to flak to the Spanish media.
Bale’s golf obsession has left him open to flak in SpainCredit: Instagram @garethbale11
Bale got into hot water when he held up the Wales flag with the slogan: WALES. GOLF. MADRID. IN THAT ORDERCredit: �2019 David Rawcliffe/Propaganda. All Rights Reserved.
The 30-year-old told the Erik Anders Lang podcast: “A lot of people have problems with me playing golf, I don’t know what the reason is.
“I’ve spoken to doctors and everybody’s fine with it.
“The media have this perception that it’s not good for me. ‘You should be resting, it can cause problems, injuries.’
“In America, I know Steph Curry plays maybe on the morning of a game. Here, if I play two days before a game it’s like ‘what’s he doing?'”
He was once pictured after a Wales win holding up the Welsh flag with a slogan that read: ‘WALES. GOLF. MADRID. IN THAT ORDER’.
Of course, that let to outrage back in Spain.
BUT IT’S NOT ALL BEEN BAD
His first season was blighted by injury.
Of Real’s first 16 games, he missed five and was substituted on or off in six others, playing only five full games.
But, towards the business end of the season came his defining moments in a Los Blancos shirt.
Bale holds aloft the Champions League trophyCredit: Getty – Contributor
Bale celebrates his wonder goal against Barcelona Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The overhead kick goal against Liverpool is one of the best Champions League goals everCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bale’s days at Real Madrid appear numbered under ZidaneCredit: EPA
He became a hero after scoring a wonder goal against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Bale followed that masterstroke by downing fierce rivals Atletico Madrid with a header in the Champions League final.
“It was incredible,” he said. “To do it in my first season was a dream come true. That is why I came to Real Madrid.”
In 2018, Bale scored one of the greatest Champions League goals ever – a spectacular overhead kick to defeat Liverpool.
But that didn’t impress Zidane much.
In fact, there was no acknowledgement from the French coach, who Bale revealed said nothing to him after the game.
Even in his greatest moment, it appears Bale can do nothing right to change his manager’s opinion about him.
Hazard, Bale and more return to Real Madrid training ahead of LaLiga return
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
