Gareth Bale is again facing the wrath of the Spanish media as Real Madrid are told to " fire " the Wales superstar.
The forward scored both goals for his country, including a spectacular free-kick, as they beat Austria 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier. Bale has been used sparingly at best by Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu with his contract due to expire in a matter of months. However for Wales he remains a leading light.
Bale's quality has never been in doubt and was evident early in his Madrid career following his then world-record move from Tottenham. However, he has faced jeers from Los Blancos' fans and been regularly criticised by the country's media. That has again been the theme on Friday morning as Bale is accused of "lacking respect" for the LaLiga leaders.
Cristobal Soria ranted on El Chiringuito as he began by saying: “He’s stamping on the club. He has to go. You have to fire him! What do you mean June? He’s going to carry on lacking respect for the badge and the institution. And you want to wait until June? My God, man.” He was reminded that Madrid can't simply let the player go without paying out his current deal, which saw him continue.
He claimed: “What do you mean they can’t fire him? Where does it say they can’t fire him? Show me it. You have to pay it in June! You won’t laugh at me (the club) again. I’ll fire you. And then a judge will tell me when, how and how much I’ll have to pay you. They’ll end up paying anyway! I’ll pay you anyway yes, but when they tell me I have to, not when you want me to. You won’t laugh at me again. Or at the dressing room, or at the coach.”
Bale was also slammed by Spanish newspaper Marca. The headline of their match report said: "Bale is a phenomenon when he wants to be." The 32-year-old has led his country to within one step of the World Cup and they will face either Ukraine or Scotland. The same publication claimed the forward will have to produce another stellar display, which he doesn't do in Spain.
They said: "Bale will have to again demonstrate he is a star, a thing which in Madrid he has not wanted to show for around the last three years." It also went on to add: "The Bale parasite came from the cold and rainy Britain. He settled in Spain, at Real Madrid, where, masked, he first showed diligence and love for the guest, but then his nature led him to suck blood without giving anything in return. Well, more than blood, he sucked, and sucks, the club's euros."
AS, another Spanish newspaper, also accused the Welshman of "dropping out" of El Clasico last Sunday - a game which saw Los Blancos lose 4-0 to Barcelona at the Bernabeu. Bale has previously risked the wrath of those in Spain when he was pictured with his teammates holding a flag which read: "Wales, Golf, Madrid."
The Madrid outcast said after the Wales win: "It was a massive game. We knew that. We had to perform and dig deep and use our experience in big games. It's the perfect scenario. That's half the job done. We will enjoy tonight. There is still another tough game against either Scotland or Ukraine and we will be ready for that when it comes."
