The two sides of Real Madrid and Wales ace Gareth Bale
By Leyla Hamed.
The resilient forward has handled off-field criticism superbly in his two years with the Spanish giants – and silenced critics on it for his national team.
The international break seems to have had a positive effect on almost all Real Madrid players who have joined up with their respective national teams. Players like Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao have shown a clear improvement that could prove very useful for the club going into such a decisive stage of the season. However, it is Gareth Bale who has been the ultimate beneficiary of this uncomfortable break in the football calendar.
The Welshman has distanced himself from the harsh criticism that he constantly receives by certain sections of the Spanish press – and that has lead to him showcasing the best version of himself while playing for the national team. With his national side, Bale is the main protagonist. Chris Coleman’s team are now closer than ever to making history by qualifying for Euro 2016, with Bale their undisputed star after netting a double against Israel.
Since he signed for Real Madrid, the number ’11’ has had to endure dissenting voices that questioned practically everything about him: from the expensive fee paid by the Spanish club for his transfer to debate about his best position on the field or the mysterious injuries reported by the media that apparently threatened his career. Bale has had to live with these difficulties since arriving in the Spanish capital; and continues to do so, even though he has been a key player for the white club in recent victories that will forever go down in Real Madrid history.
It was thanks to the “excessive individualism” he has been accused of that Real won the Copa del Rey final last season against Barcelona. With an impressive run in the dying stages of what had been an intense game until then, Bale left Marc Bartra chasing his shadow down the left. He then went straight into Jose Pinto’s direction and struck the ball between the Barça’s goalkeeper’s legs. Nobody recalls the fact that Karim Benzema was waiting on the penalty spot or thinks how ‘selfish’ Bale was for not passing the ball.
We all agree Sergio Ramos was Real Madrid’s hero in the 93rd minute of the Champions League final, when with Atletico Madrid leading 1-0, he scored the equaliser from a corner kick by heading the ball past Thibaut Courtois. But then, Bale reappeared again on that vital night. When the team needed him most, he took over and effectively killed the game. The Welsh forward’s 110th-minute goal set his team on the way to their very long-held dream of winning a 10th European trophy.
This international break has uncovered the two faces of the Welshman. The club version of him, seemingly overshadowed by the abundance of stars around him that we see at Real Madrid this season; and the leadership side of him that he’s displayed for Wales recently. Both of these are reflections of a player who is destined to make history and become one of the next leaders in the white shirt.
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