La Liga
Gareth Bale: The New Face Of Real Madrid?
Ever since Real Madrid lifted their third successive UEFA Champions League Trophy last May, the club has been in transition. Whether most knew it or not at the time, the transition began the night of that very final in Kiev.
‘Los Blancos’ most expensive signing Gareth Bale came off of the bench to bury two beautiful goals and win the trophy for the whites. The Welshman’s heroics would mean he and not star player Cristiano Ronaldo was the man of the moment.
Interestingly, both Bale and Ronaldo would hint at exits in their post match interviews. The message was painfully clear to those who follow the Spanish club closely.
There is only space for one main man at Real Madrid.
Enter July: Ronaldo has moved on as a club legend and Real Madrid need a new leader. Perhaps for this reason, Bale has remained in Spain’s capital after all. The absence of a major signing fuels the idea that the future of the team is wrapped around the speedy attacker.
The Future
After his amazing Champion’s League final, Bale was clear about what he wanted from the club. “I need to be playing week in and week out.” Playing time should not be a problem for the 29 year old when the new season starts in August.
Some fans of the Madrid based club will suggest Gareth simply remain healthy if he seeks weekly playing time. Indeed, injury has been a major part of the forward’s time at Madrid. However, a frosty relationship with former manager Zidane most likely contributed to limited minutes as well.
Gareth was the only player to not publicly wish Zidane well when the Frenchman stepped down as coach last May. Now under new coach Lopetegui, a man rumored to have big plans for him, the Welsh star has a chance to make Real his team.
Additionally, club president Florentino Perez is known to be a big fan of Gareth. It was Perez after all who broke the transfer record to bring him to the club. Florentino’s own inaction or inability to bring a new attacker to Madrid this season may be the biggest clue yet that Bale is the new face of Real Madrid.
