Gareth Bale is, to put it mildly, a hero of Welsh football. His brilliance, which was once again on full display during the 2-1 win over Austria on Thursday night, has set him above so many of his peers, elevating him to the status of a once-in-a-generation talent.
And yet, he remains the source of grave frustration, anger and, in some cases, outright hatred in some corners in Spain. On the day of what was one of his biggest games in a Wales shirt, one Spanish outlet labelled him a 'parasite' in what was arguably the most stinging attack on yet on the winger.
But why is Bale such a disliked figure in Spain? We asked Spain-based freelance football writer Jamie Kemble for a full lowdown.
