?“We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone.”
That was Zinedine Zidane on Gareth Bale as recently as 21 July. Six weeks, one collapsed move to China and several slices of humble pie later, Gareth Bale is very much back in the picture at Real Madrid. In fact, he was pretty much picture perfect against Villarreal as Los Blancos teetered on the verge of an embarrassing defeat before ‘The Golfer’ stepped up to the tee.
Villarreal twice took the lead at El Madrigal and twice Bale equalised. The second of Bale’s efforts came just five minutes from time as he cut in from the right, evading defenders before catching the keeper out at his near post.
Point saved, point made.
As you might well expect, Twitter had a fair amount to say about the resurgence of Bale.
Gareth Bale: 234 games with Real Madrid 103 goals and 47 assists.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) September 1, 2019
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Turns out it wasn’t best for everyone that Bale left after all.
— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnuttAFP) September 1, 2019
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Pretty lucky Bale fought to stay then huh?
— Lee Roden (@LeeRoden89) September 1, 2019
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Job done. Bale went to ride off into the sunset on his golf cart throwing smug glances at Zidane… oh wait, what? He got sent off for a soft second yellow?! Blimey.
90+4’| Second yellow card for Gareth Bale. #RMLiga
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) September 1, 2019
Gareth Bale sent off!! Two yellow cards in two minutes!!! Ha! What a night for him
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) September 1, 2019
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Bale red card. In Zidane’s mind, he’s won tonight.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) September 1, 2019
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Let’