Part of the problem for Bale is that he plays
at the same time as Messi – who re-affirmed so brilliantly against City on
Wednesday evening that he could well be the greatest player of all-time –
and in the same team as Ronaldo who is challenging the Argentinean.
The fact
is that Bale will probably not fulfil his potential until either he or Ronaldo
leave Real Madrid. And he does not want to leave.
Right now
it is more likely that Ronaldo will go. The Real president Florentino Perez has
invested so much in Bale and could not contain his delight at the Welshman’s two goals against Levante
last weekend, his first in nine games with the pressure and
criticism growing. Perez duly made it clear that there was no way the player
was going anywhere.
Ronaldo’s reaction to one of those
goals – the frustration he showed that his attempted bicycle
kick had not gone in being far greater than his celebration of Bale volleying
the loose ball into the net – was revealing. His actions say it all.
So part
of the problem for Bale is his relationship with Ronaldo - not because it is
bad but because there really is not much of a relationship. The pair are
friendly but not friends. There is no chemistry between them and there never
would be from the moment Bale signed for Real Madrid and the club refused to
disclose it was for a world-record fee – for fear of upsetting Ronaldo whose
£80million signing from United it had eclipsed.
Ronaldo
also earned a new contract, much to United’s frustration, as it left them
feeling they had been used for just that purpose. If Ronaldo wants to return to
United this summer then it appears he will have to make more of the running
than his former club.
Bale
appears to have detached himself from the circus around Ronaldo and
concentrated on his own development. Last season ended triumphantly for Bale
with 22 goals in 44 matches including that exhilarating run and finish against
Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and the vital goal in extra-time that won the
Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid.
This
season has undoubtedly been more of a struggle but only of late and only
through the prism of a team that has also faltered and is geared towards
servicing Ronaldo. It also can be no coincidence that Bale’s return to
goal-scoring coincided with Luka Modric, his former Tottenham Hotspur team-mate
and a player who knows how to provide for him, recovering from being out for three
months injured.
Sometimes
it is forgotten that even the best players in the world can only thrive in a
team sport like football if they receive the right service from their
team-mates.
Bale is
low-maintenance – as the episode with the round of golf showed – and is
enjoying life in Madrid. His family has settled also and he has worked a way of
ensuring he can keep a life back in Wales along with one in Spain.
But he
has challenges. Challenges at his club and challenges at gaining the
recognition he deserves. But we possess in a footballing superstar who is
British – a 'crack', to use that Spanish term that was raised by City manager
Manuel Pellegrini during the week – and one who could become the first player
from these shores to win the Ballon d’Or since
it integrated with the Fifa World Player of the Year.
Michael
Owen was the last British Ballon d’Or winner back in 2001 but who was the last
player to have the ability to excite that Bale possesses?
Bale will
be 26 in July and is yet to reach his prime. Messi is 28 in June while Ronaldo
is already 30. There is an incredible opportunity for Bale in the next two or
three years if he can take it - which is what he wants.
And if he
does then it is something we should all relish once we recognise what an
outstanding player he already is.
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