The Spanish football press appear rather unhappy after Gareth Bale's stunning brace took Wales to a World Cup play-off final.
The Welshman's detractors reacted with scorn after his sensational performance, questioning why he does not play for Real Madrid in the same way.
Bale struck twice in Wales' World Cup 2-1 play-off semi-final victory over Austria in Cardiff on Thursday evening. They are now just one step away from the tournament in Qatar, with a game against Scotland or Ukraine awaiting them later this year.
He hit back at his critics post-match, saying those responsible should be ashamed of themselves (read his full comments here), which features prominently in Spain's coverage.
Read more: The best pictures from the night Welsh football edged closer to World Cup dream
The front page of today's AS had the headline 'Ya Le Bale' and read "Bale scores two great goals with his country after missing El Clasico". Football journalist Sid Lowe explained: "Difficult ones to translate this. Word play with Bale. It’s a phrase that kind of means 'that’ll do now', 'that’s enough', but also sort of 'that’s ok for him', 'that matters'. Also plays on Bale sounding the same as vale (worth, ok, etc). It’s both positive and very much negative."
Inside, the sports outlet points to Bale's stunning display just a matter of days after his "alleged back pain" which forced him to miss Real Madrid v Barcelona on Sunday.
"Definitely, if Gareth Bale played every week for Wales instead of being that easygoing Real Madrid footballer, it wouldn't be unreasonable to consider him for a Ballon d'Or," it read. "Wearing the Dragon jersey he transformed from the ice floe that is Chamartín to a fiery and dominant star, and he did it again against Austria to leave his country in the World Cup play-off final. A double of goals, the first from a set piece and the second after a corner, which knocked his teammate Alaba out of the race and continues to make more than one madridista wonder why the hell he doesn't do the same with Madrid."
As for Bale's first goal, the report said: "He celebrated by biting the shield of his shirt. You know: Wales. Golf. And what follows. Always in that order.
"Shouting, pressing, beating his chest in the red shirt that, obviously, suits him much more than the white madridista. He only left the field in the 92nd minute basically to receive a standing ovation from his countrymen. He practically had to be removed from the pitch by turning off the stadium lights. Bale, with Wales, is eternal."
'A Diario' radio presenter Raul Varela seemingly mocked Bale's passion for Wales relative to his club, saying: "I wish Gareth Bale was Spanish. I wish his name was Carlos García, a native of Lerma, in the province of Burgos, where, in addition to an imposing Ducal Palace converted into a Parador, there is a magnificent golf course, incidentally. I wish Luis Enrique could call him up for the national team because he would be the undisputed starter. I wish he behaved as he almost never behaved and met our expectations.
"What keeps him alive is playing with his national team. Be it an official match or a charity party."
The presenter admits Bale "outshines any footballer in front of him" and elevates his Wales teammates, adding: "Gareth is the red dragon on the Welsh flag. A being as imposing as mythological. A soccer patriot."
As for Marca - who on the morning of Wales' match labelled Bale a "parasite" alongside an image of Bale's face on a parasite's body appearing to suck blood from the Real Madrid badge - their front page section read: "Bale decides it with two great goals after his recovery".
They say Bale showed signs of being "100% available and in full condition to perform at his best for his national team" from the moment he linked up with Wales, adding: "Gareth Bale has been one of the protagonists of Real Madrid this week and not because of the performance he has given the white club but rather because of the performance he has failed to give."
Another report in Marca defended Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona at the weekend in the face of some fans who criticise him for not involving the likes of Bale, Jazard, Jovic, Isco or Marcelo.
Writer Carlos Carpio says: "It takes a lot of twisting of reality to hold Ancelotti responsible for Bale being a foreign body in the squad. The Welshman has ended up becoming a cheeky man who has been making fun of Real Madrid for a long time by shamelessly putting his team's matches before the interests of the club that pays him a millionaire salary that for three years he has not justified with his performance. He scored two great goals with Wales, just four days after being removed from the call for a Clásico in which his team needed him due to Benzema's withdrawal alleging some alleged inconvenience that disappeared the next day. Some time ago his priorities were as clear as his lack of professionalism.
"The minimum is to be professional and in good shape and available for when the coach decides to use them. That for those they charge astronomical salaries, although they no longer deserve them."
