As one of the very few British players plying their trade at the highest level in a top European top tier outside of the Premier League, Gareth Bale has a very respectable return for Real Madrid.
In 222 games, the Welshman has 101 goals, and 63 assists. He’s helped bring 13 trophies back to the Bernabeu since his megabucks move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013. The forward himself has bagged five important goals in cup finals; we needn’t remind you of his stunner against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League Final.
The fact that he finds himself in the headlines for his perceived unhappiness at Real Madrid, as well as Los Blancos fans unhappiness with him, more than his admirable feats is quite remarkable.
The issue has come to the fore this week - in the wake of back-to-back El Clasico defeats to Barcelona - with Bale’s agent now speaking out at the poor treatment the £650k-a-week man receives in the Spanish capital;
"This generation of Real fans will be talking about Gareth's goals for years to come," said the 29-year-old's representative, Jonathan Barnett (via the BBC).
"They should be ashamed of themselves. Those fans should be kissing his feet."
"Gareth deserves the greatest of respect. The way Real fans have treated him is nothing short of a disgrace," Barnett added.
"In the six years he has been in Spain, he has won everything. He's one of the best players in the world.
"Despite what the Spanish press are reporting, he's happy, he speaks reasonable Spanish and there is no problem between him and the rest of the Real players. The people writing these things know nothing about him.”
Marca have recently taken disparaging quotes from teammate Marcelo, whilst English publication The Mirror, to provide another example, has previously reported that Premier League clubs Chelsea, Manchester United, and his former side Spurs were interested in bringing him back to English pastures to save him from his ‘woe’.
Barnett fervently refutes these claims;
"There has not been one single discussion about Gareth leaving Madrid. He isn't going anywhere this summer.
"Despite what's been reported, he's content, he wants to stay at Real and they want him.
"We're fed up of fake stories that he's leaving."
To call a player who has four Champions League winners’ medals to his name a failure, continuously admonished by his own fanbase - demonstrated when being substituted off against Levante at home, but that seems to be the situation Gareth Bale currently finds himself in. With the Premier League, maybe Bale will finally realise that there’s no place like home.
