A Spanish TV pundit last night called for Real Madrid to fire Gareth Bale as an extraordinary argument broke out live on television.
Wales hero Bale yet again put in a Roy-of-the-Rovers-type performance against Austria at Cardiff City Stadium last night to put Rob Page's side just one match away from the World Cup in Qatar, scoring two outstanding goals, including a free-kick of world-class quality.
In the build-up to the clash his fitness was lambasted back in Spain where he was labelled "a parasite" by the Madrid-based media, something which Bale addressed in his post-match interview with Sky Sports last night. You can read all about that here.
Read more: The best pictures from the night Welsh football edged closer to World Cup dream
The Spanish written press reacted with disbelief to his superhuman performance, and a TV show in the country went one step further and urged the powers-that-be at the Bernabeu to sack the Welshman. A more than lively argument started in the El Chiringuito studio, where Bale's behaviour was pored over.
Broadcaster Cristobal Soria said: "He's stamping on the club! And you're here saying 'well it's that, it's that.' What?! He has to go! You have to fire him! But 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..."
Another pundit interjected, saying: "But they can't just fire him!"
Soria responded: "What do you mean they can't just fire him? Where does it say you can't just fire him? Show me it. And you'd have to pay it in June. You won't laugh at me again, I'll fire you. And then a judge will tell me when and how much I have to pay you. They'll end up paying anyway!"
Bale's relationship with Real Madrid and the media based in the capital has been fraught for years, with the 32-year-old's fitness concerns at the heart of their grievances. The international skipper fired back at his critics last night, saying: "I don't need to send a message, honestly. It's a waste of my time. It's disgusting, they should all be ashamed of themselves. I'm not fussed. End of."
Wales face either Scotland or Ukraine in the World Cup play-off final in June. An exact date for the contest in Cardiff will be announced by FIFA in due course. You can read more about that here.
