Gareth Bale had to deal with a tumultuous summer, and the critics will never subside. But the Real Madrid winger is focused on the task at hand, which is to help his team achieve success in the 2019-2020 campaign.
Although Gareth Bale didn’t have his strongest season in 2018-2019, he was far from the only Real Madrid star who suffered a letdown performance. It was an off year for the whole team due to injuries, tactical issues, and a variety of other ingredients that created a perfect storm.
But despite a rough offseason that featured no shortage of transfer rumors, Bale is still a Real Madrid player. More importantly, Bale has looked like an effective player to start the season, scoring twice and assisting once as one of La Liga’s most efficient players through the first three games.
Bale recently spoke candidly about his position during the international break, but the Welsh attacker made it clear that he’ll always give his absolute best for his team.
Quota via SkySports.com’s Joe Tanner:
"“I wouldn’t say I’m playing happy but I’m playing, when I am playing I am professional and I am always giving all I can, whether that be for club or country."
Though Bale’s response was measured and accounts for the fact that his future at Real is still uncertain, the man’s play on the pitch speaks volumes. He has indeed been giving his all, seeing as how his brace against Villarreal helped rescue a point for his side against a top-five opponent.
The Guardian’s Stuart James also has some quotes where Bale discusses the coverage of his “golfing” and talks more about the negativity he receives from some fans and social media
Bale is, sadly, used to this and knows that he cannot listen to the crowd. They don’t even represent all Real Madrid fans, as most genuinely appreciate what the player has done for the club and understand his quality. The majority of fans do want Bale to succeed and support him through the uncertainty, even though it’s more appealing for some to think of him as the enemy of the fanbase.
It isn’t easy being in Bale’s situation, but he’s still world-class on his day. So far, Bale has been playing a key role for Real, and hopefully the unfair narrative begins to turn as the season rolls on.
Additionally, it’s good to hear Bale’s own words and understand more of what he goes through. Even though he’s a wildly successful and accomplished athlete, the man still goes through a lot, because this type of agenda would hurt anyone.
Yet he remains willing to give his best to the team, and that is all that matters.