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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Tom Coleman

Gareth Bale just turned up at Real Madrid training to surprise his old team-mates and they loved it

LAFC star Gareth Bale surprised his former Real Madrid team-mates by dropping in on their training session in Los Angeles.

Real are currently on a pre-season tour of the American west coast, and the Wales captain couldn't resist popping by to check in with some of his old friends as they were put through their paces at UCLA.

Bale left the Spanish giants on a free transfer earlier in the summer, shortly after picking up a fifth Champions League winners' medal, cementing his status as a club legend, although his relationship with Real's fans and the local media often proved turbulent at times.

READ MORE: Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman reveals just how close Gareth Bale came to joining Bluebirds in 'dream' move

Indeed, the soured relationship between the 33-year-old and the press reached a crescendo earlier this year after a columnist for Spanish outlet Marca labelled Bale a 'parasite'.

However, there was little sign of any ill-feeling as Bale was reunited with his former boss Carlo Ancelotti, with the pair captured sharing a warm embrace.

There was a similar greeting from striker Karim Benzema, while the likes of Luka Modric, Eden Hazard were all smiles as they greeted the Welshman, who was also seen laughing and joking with Casemiro and Vinícius Junior.

Despite coming close to a move to hometown club Cardiff City, Bale recently sealed a move to MLS side LAFC, where he intends to get himself into the best possible shape ahead of Wales' first World Cup campaign since 1958.

There's also the opportunity to pick up some silverware, with LAFC currently top of the Western Conference.

Bale has already made quite an impact with his new employers, netting his first goal for the club in last weekend's 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City.

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