Gareth Bale’s brace against Villarreal on Matchweek 3 was crucial in rescuing a point for Real Madrid, and a recent report indicates that despite the offseason drama, manager Zinedine Zidane now thinks highly of the Welsh forward.
It is unfortunate how talented, hard-working players can become magnets for criticism by an unsettled fanbase, especially after one off year. Gareth Bale was the subject of much rumor and speculation over the summer, and it once seemed like he was as good as gone from Real Madrid, especially with rumblings that Zinedine Zidane had soured on the veteran attacker.
But it’s just as incredible how quickly narratives can change. Bale has featured in all three of Real’s first games to start the 2019-2020 La Liga campaign, scoring twice and assisting once as a key component of a team that is first in shots on target per game.
According to sources close to ESPN’s Rodrigo Faez, Zidane sees Bale and Eden Hazard as “key” players in his vision.
Zidane’s second stint with Real featured a busy summer that included the purchase of Hazard, a new goalkeeper, and several talented young players like Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy. He wanted to sign Paul Pogba badly, but Manchester United knew they could not afford to lose their best player and one of the best midfielders in the world.
Real’s midfield will need some stabilization and youth next summer, but it looks strong enough to support a tantalizing attack. Karim Benzema has picked up where he left off last year, Hazard is arguably a top-five player in the world, Vinicius is supremely gifted, Jovic has quality, and Rodrygo Goes is one of the most exciting prospects in La Liga.
And then there’s Bale, who still has something left to give to this team. Bale is an incredible athlete, works hard to create chances for his team, and is one of the most lethal finishers in the world. He’s started the season strongly and, per the report from ESPN, has impressed the notoriously hard-to-please Zidane with his apparent attitude change. (I’m not sure what that means.)
A lot of the criticisms against Bale are overblown, though a whirlwind of summer rumors can leave a player in an uncertain position. That uncertainty still exists, but if Bale can keep making an impression on Zidane, he’ll undoubtedly turn the narrative and reestablish himself as a key player for Los Blancos.
So far, so good. And it’s nice to hear a positive report about Zidane and Bale for a change. It’ll be exciting to see how he, Benzema, Hazard, and Vinicius all gel this season.