Gareth Bale arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 as a breathtaking talent, a world record signing and a true Galactico.
In the years following his gigantic transfer to Santiago Bernebeu, the Welshman would rise to the top along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and form a terrifying electric attack that ran to four Champions League crowns in five years.
His pace, creativity and goals created a love affair between Bale and the true believers.
This is the best goal ever in a final.
Period.
Crazy from Gareth Bale. # UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/RyAIR94p2W
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 26 May 2018
But lately, the atmosphere around Bale’s status as a Real Madrid player has been tense and rocky. The Welshman saw more of the bench than the grass during the 2019/20 season, after falling out with Zinedine Zidane.
Since then, he spent his 2020/21 loan at Tottenham – a move that apparently spelled the long-awaited confirmation that his Los Blancos career was dead in the water. But last season, Bale showed glimpses of his old, unplayable self and that he still has something to offer Real Madrid.
Karim Benzema’s 30 goals and nine assists last election period were the only thing that saved a really weak Real attack. Wings Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr scored a total of 19 goals in 151 games over all competitions, while back-frontman Mariano Diaz recorded just one strike in 22 games – nothing short of scary numbers.
While Los Blancos still managed to finish second in La Liga, the fantastic Benzema was flanked by regularly weak edges, from which the side always needed more.
Bale, on the other hand, came into being when he got the opportunity during his second spell with Spurs. The wing managed massively productive streaks when they got playing time and eventually registered 16 strikes in 34 matches – of which 11 came on just 20 Premier League excursions, which corresponded to one goal every 84 minutes.
He undeniably showed that he really has not lost the ability to score, while showing his unplayable nature on more than one occasion – especially to make a hat trick in a 4-0 victory against Sheffield United late in the campaign looks like the easiest in the world.
The 32-year-old has also visibly added to his game since the consistent electric days at Real. Bale was inevitably Wales’s leading man on his way to Euro 2020, but proved to be much more than just a source of goals.
He put in masterfully creative and game-dictating performances that inspired the Welsh and eventually led them to the last 16. In addition to intelligent explosions behind and the will to run directly against his opposition, Bale showed his ability to find space perfectly and create opportunities out of nothing.
Of course, Los Blancos is quite covered for creative midfielders, but the qualities he has shown can undoubtedly add an element of calm, efficiency and clinical quality in the final third.
The Gareth Bale helps … #TURWAL pic.twitter.com/PtMgB99rSX
– Tim Michell (@tim_michell) June 16, 2021
Let us also not forget that Bale will probably have the chance to impress Real Madrid this promotion. After Zidane’s departure during the summer, Carlo Ancelotti has taken the reins – the man who brought Bale to Santiago Bernebeu eight years ago and saw him thrive during the two years he trained the Welshman.
It looked like the 32-year-old’s career would end when he replaced leg protection with golf clubs, but he has done more than enough to prove that he still has a lot to offer a side competing for the top spot.
