THERE’s a certain set of statistics that have bounced around social media in the dying days of Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid career. They illustrate the level of success the Welshman has enjoyed since making the move to Spain six years ago, placing his figure directly against that of Zinedine Zidane, the man seemingly intent on forcing Bale out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
In just four more games for the Spanish capital club, Bale has scored more than double the number of goals than his now manager ever did in the famous white shirt. He has registered just one assist fewer and has lifted 13 trophies compared to the six trophies Zidane got his hands on at Real Madrid.
Of course, this is a crude comparison. Zidane was never a talent defined by his goals. The Frenchman’s brilliance was more nuanced than that. Bale, on the other hand, has always been a powerful attacking force whose highlight reel consists of scorchers from distance rather than skills and silky first touches around the box and through the midfield.
Zinedine Zidane at #RealMadrid
Games: 227
⚽️ Goals: 49
️ Assists: 66
Trophies: 6Gareth Bale at #RealMadrid:
Games: 231
⚽️ Goals: 102
️ Assists: 65
Trophies: 13♂️ pic.twitter.com/nLuYR6Z0G5
— Unibet (@unibet) July 21, 2019
But these statistics serve to underline the respect Bale deserves. The respect he has been denied in recent times. With his Real Madrid career coming to an end as a mega-money move to the Chinese Super League looms, the Welsh winger has become a figure of hate for support who have done everything to demonstrate this over the past couple seasons.
Indeed, Bale has had the proverbial rotten fruit thrown at him consistently for the past year or two. Lambasted for never learning to speak the native tongue, for his supposed laziness in training and even for his fondness of a game of golf. His dressing room nickname, ‘The Golfer,’ has been adopted as a front-page insult by the Madrid press.
Bale is hardly the only footballer who likes to spend his spare time on the golf course, though. What are his real crimes? It’s a question most associated with Real Madrid struggle to answer. Nobody can quite remember how it all started in the first place, but Bale has been the victim of a narrative that has spiralled out of control.
Today's newspapers united in the belief that Gareth "the golfer" Bale is a problem… *because he was watching a golf tournament on his mobile phone as the team arrived at Levante* pic.twitter.com/gkp7uBkdAN
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) February 26, 2019
The Real Madrid socios have been all too eager to buy into some mistruths about the 30-year-old. But to understand the vitriol directed at Bale one must understand the identity of the Santiago Bernabeu club as an institution and how they value players, even their best players. Cristiano Ronaldo was after all booed from time to time.
There is a culture of capitalism at Real Madrid. It trickles through every aspect of a club based on the ‘Galacticos’ philosophy – a strategy of buying the best around. It informs the nature of the Real Madrid support too. A player is only ever as good as their last performance no matter what they have achieved in the past.
Others have found themselves the victim of this culture, but what Bale has faced has been on another level. The way Real Madrid and even Zidane have added to the narrative has left a bitter taste in the mouth. “Zidane is a disgrace,” says Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett. “He shows no respect for a player that has done so much for Real Madrid.”
At this stage, a parting of the ways is undoubtedly best for both parties. But having been a key figure in one of the best, if not the best, Real Madrid teams in history, scoring in two different Champions League finals, a Copa del Rey final and two Club World Cup finals, Bale deserves a fond farewell. Instead, many Real Madrid supporters are willing to drive the winger to the airport, or at least pay for his taxi. Some wouldn't allow him in their car let alone afford him a handshake.
