Spanish outlet Marca has launched another attack on Wales talisman Gareth Bale, branding him "the Welsh parasite". Bale, who has 14 trophies with Real Madrid including four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles, awoke to enraged headlines from Spanish media organisations on Wednesday as they took umbrage with the Wales captain daring to enjoy himself during a training session with his international team-mates.
Marca themselves plastered the image of a happy-looking Bale and Joe Rodon in Welsh training gear alongside the headline "It doesn't hurt anymore". The accompanying text read: "Bale, who didn't even see the Clasico at the stadium, trains hard with Wales."
On Thursday, just hours before Bale is set to take on Austria at Cardiff City Stadium for Wales' World Cup play-off, Marca continued to question him. Accompanying a headline which reads, simply, "The Welsh Parasite", their website has mocked up an image of Bale's face on a parasite's body, appearing to suck blood from the Real Madrid badge.
Even when Bale has been fit, Carlo Ancelotti has only used him to populate the substitutes' bench in recent weeks. His omission due to injury was hardly the reason for Real's chastening loss to arch-rivals Barca on Sunday night. However, Marca's take on Bale on Thursday morning read: "The Bale parasite came from the cold and rainy Britannia. He settled in Spain, at Real Madrid, where, masked, he first showed diligence and love for the club, 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.
"Unlike others of its kind, such as the flea, the louse or the bedbug, the Bale parasite does not cause itching or illnesses in its host, but after sucking, it laughs and makes fun of it, showing a jocular contempt for the one from whom he lives. He laughs, applauds, throws himself on the ground, sings, as a kind of humiliating ceremony, which, luckily, has an expiration date, like all misfortunes."
Wales fans will be hoping Bale proves fit and ready to fire against Austria. As per normal, "Viva Gareth Bale" chants will doubtless boom out in the Welsh capital on Thursday evening. Where there is Real Madrid angst, there is only love and warmth towards him here in Wales.
Wales v Austria kicks off at 7.45pm. You can follow all the build-up and live matches updates on Thursday evening here.
