BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – A unique skill that scored goals in the highest critical moments, or a remote solitaire who cared more about golf than the game for which millions were paid?
Have Real Madrid got Gareth Bale right.
Bale ended his seven seasons in Madrid on Saturday when he returned to a one-season loan from Tottenham, the one he left in 2013 to come to Spain.
When he arrived in Madrid for a record hundred million euros (then $132 million), his new enthusiasts knew Bale as the wonderful Welsh man who can win one-handed matches with his long and sublime technique and impressive goals.
But from his long tenure in the Spanish capital, one of the few things about Bale that Madrid enthusiasts discovered was that he enjoyed moving on to a passlf circular every time he could escape in the countryside.
When he was given some quick interview after a match, Bale spoke at all times – very – in English, never in Spanish, even after seven years in Spain.
Bale hurt through his repeated injury disorders in Madrid, where he had fierce festival with other stars.
Madrid fans, however, have had enough of Bale to not live up to their expectations in many matches, which gave the impression to many that the weekly match routine did not attract him as much as the high-level finals.
But this obvious reluctance to play hard, remain compatible and blend in has passed through many Madrid fans as long as it amazes them on the pitch.
Bale’s symbol of the detached exterior reflected his goals, which were produced through moments of individual brilliity of Bale, not through running towards the opposing goal with teammates.
His memorable first purpose for the club came here in the final of the 2014 Copa del Rey against Barcelona in the debut season of Bale coach Carlo Ancelotti, who turned out to be the best.
With Cristiano Ronaldo injured, Bale secured the name in the last few minutes by haggling the bandline in a general gallop, pushing Marc Bartra’s shoulder and touching the ball under goalkeeper Jose Pinto for a 2–1 win.
A month later, Bale led the 2014 Champions League final with a 4–1 win over Atletico Madrid, the first of four European Cups.
Bale saved his most productive effort for the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool, when he arrived here as a replacement for the moment and a half with a score of 1-1 and 3 minutes later he lit up Kiev Stadium with a goal with a motorcycle kick. added with a long-range lightning bolt dropped by goalkeeper Loris Karius.
But at the time, he was no longer an indispensable player for coach Zinedine Zidane.
Minutes after marking the one who said the most productive purpose of his career, Bale complained on television that he was disappointed that he had not started opposing Liverpool and that he sought to play every week, leaving doubt to his long career at the club.
A year later, Zidane went so far as to say that Madrid was about to move Bale and added: “Let us hope, for everyone’s all, that this will happen soon. “
This resolution did not materialize and things got even worse between Bale and his club.
The lowest point was reached in November 2019 when Bale publicly mocked his club by celebrating Wales’ ranking for the 2020 European Championships with a sign that read “Wales”. Golf. Madrid. In that order. “
That didn’t seem to impress Zidane. Bale made only 20 appearances last season, up from 42 last season.
Madrid won the name of the Spanish league in July, but Bale has not played in the last 8 games of the season, not even a Champions League against Manchester City that lost To Madrid.
Zidane, however, said on Saturday that he had no emotion for Bale.
“I’ve never had any mess with Bale and it’s never been a pain,” Zidane said. “You have done a wonderful task as to what is accomplished here and there should be no discussion about it. He won a match”. a lot of money at Real Madrid. “
The definitive symbol of Bale in Spain can be only of him in the stands El Madrid fit behind the Alavés in July, while his team walked towards the name without his help. of the front seat, and pulled his face covering his eyes as if looking to take a nap.
___
More AP Football: https://apnews. com/Soccer and https://twitter. com/AP_Sports