'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' - Bale blasted in Spain for celebration

Gareth Bale's popularity in Spain appears to have sunk to an all-time low as he heads back to Real Madrid following international duty.

Bale

Source: FOX Soccer Twitter

Not sighted in La Liga for well over a month, the winger made his second Wales start in four days as Ryan Giggs' men secured EURO 2020 qualification with a 2-0 win over Hungary on Wednesday.

Bale's timely return to fitness prompted suspicion, and his actions after the game have attracted more scorn in certain sections of the Spanish media, who have routinely criticised him for spending too much time on the golf course.

In Cardiff, he was pictured celebrating with Wales teammates behind a banner that read: "WALES. GOLF. MADRID... IN THAT ORDER".

Madrid newspaper Marca, said to have close links to the powerful club that employs Bale, did not take kindly to what has been perceived as a mocking gesture.

The front page of its Thursday edition featured Bale and the headline: "DISRESPECTFUL. WRONG. UNGRATEFUL. IN THAT ORDER".

AS, also headquartered in the Spanish capital, depicted the four-time UEFA Champions League winner sinking a close-range putt alongside the headline: "BALE IS IN A HOLE".

AS went on to say the forward's behaviour has "annoyed the club" and that "he is becoming a problem," before imploring new Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho to take him back to his former club.

Meanwhile, online newspaper El Espanol captured the order of priorities supporters expect – "MADRID. MADRID. MADRID. IN THAT ORDER" – while Real Madrid columnist Tomas Roncero summed up what appears to lay ahead.

His comment piece in AS included a simple, ominous quote for Bale's future: "Out, out, out."

The media message crossed borders ahead of Madrid's meeting with Real Sociedad on Sunday.

In an interview with The Athletic, ex-Madrid president Ramon Calderon called Bale "childish" and claimed fans were "very angry" with the one-time €100million signing.

Many more are calling for the 30-year-old, who has fallen out of favour with Real manager Zinedine Zidane and has not featured in a club match since October 5 due to injury, to be permanently axed from the team.

While football talk show presenter Josep Pedrerol implored current Real president Florentino Perez to "kick Bale out", some fans believe the flag stunt was a ploy for Bale to force his way out of the club.

He was set to leave Real for China earlier this year but the transfer fell through at the 11th hour following a change of heart from Perez, who has been Bale's biggest ally during his time in Spain.

He was also accused of "treating Real Madrid badly," even though he has helped the team to win four Champions League titles in six seasons with the club, scoring in two of the finals.


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Published 22 November 2019 7:39am

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