Gareth Bale and Real Madrid - this relationship has been tense in the past. And it should not have become any better after Tuesday evening. Cheering scenes after the victory of the Welsh national team against Hungary (2: 0) and the associated EM qualification were torn in Madrid's newspapers.
On display were the Welsh players, among them Bale, who cheered with a flag of their country on which was written the words: "Wales, Golf, Madrid, In that Order". Welsh fans had brought the flag into the stadium, the players had taken them after their victory.
Here you can see the scene in the video:
"Wales, Golf, Madrid in thatorder"
Thatshouldgodown wellin Madrid # WALHUN #Wales #Bale pic.twitter.com/LneDRHPxFc
The slogan on the banner is inspired by a critical commentary by former real-star Predrag Mijatovic. He had said in a TV show about Bale, the undisputed star of the Walister, "First and foremost, he's interested in the national team of Wales, then comes golf, and then Madrid."
Whether Bale has seen the saying before the jubilation from the front, is not clearly visible on the TV pictures. For many Madrid media, however, the matter was clear: "Bale has mocked Madrid," wrote the sports newspaper "AS," and "Marca" read: "This is Bale's greatest impudence towards Madrid, the relationship between the club and the player is broken than ever. "
There have been long tensions between Real and Bale. For 2013, the striker moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Madrid for 100 million euros. But Bale was often injured, his two goals in the Champions League triumph in 2018 against Liverpool were among the rare highlights. Coach Zinedine Zidane has repeatedly suggested that he can not do much with Bale.
"Basta now"
In summer, the Bale should actually leave Real. The change to China failed at the last moment. Since October 5, he had denied any more competitive game for Real, also due to injury. "We have always had patience with your thousand injuries, we have accepted your passion for golf, and also your bad Spanish, Basta now," read "Madrid Sports".
Much better than in Madrid, Bale seems to feel in the circle of the national team. Already at the edge of the game in Azerbaijan, the 30-year-old said: "It's like playing with your old friends in the park, I speak my language in Wales and I feel better." However, he will always give 100 percent, no matter where he plays.
Maybe this will soon be closer to home: There are already rumors about a change to the English record champions Manchester United in winter.