Gareth Bale’s head has completely gone. He’s been stuck in Madrid-based hell for a few years now, and he’s just stopped caring. The Welshman isn’t taking things seriously anymore and is having the time of his life stealing the show from the sidelines.
It’s incredible.
His relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane looks to be at an all-time low (and that’s saying something), and he’s probably making it worse with each passing week. We say ‘probably’, because…his teammates actually seem kinda into his shenanigans, don’t they? And he is, basically, making fun of the media more than his actual club, isn’t he? Hmm.
Let’s take a look at some of his best anti-Real moments.
It started off so differently.
Bale is no stranger to criticism from Real Madrid fans. For years, he has faced taunts and jibes over his injury struggles and personal life, and his first response was to try and block it out.
He netted twice in a 2-0 win over Levante in March 2015 and responded by covering his ears, telling fans that he wasn’t listening.
Wales, golf, binoculars. pic.twitter.com/6RI8a0TSg8
— 90min (@90min_Football) July 13, 2020
Real moved one step closer to the La Liga title by beating Granada 2-1 on Monday.
Did Bale care?
Not even slightly. He looked more like a five-year-old who’d found a new toy.
? Si es que hay que querer a @GarethBale11
?? Golf como forma de vida
?#Golazo pic.twitter.com/gwUrCGj42c
— El Golazo de Gol (@ElGolazoDeGol) December 6, 2019
If you didn’t realise, Bale really likes golf.
During a training session in December 2019, he made a point of ensuring that any media outlets watching on saw where his priorities lay.
A few swings of an imaginary club and a failed putt with his leg left Spanish outlets blasting him for not caring enough, but Bale simply didn’t care.
Great to see Gareth Bale’s at it again pic.twitter.com/VMnQuMkR6P
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) June 9, 2020
Combining his love of golf with his admiration for that picture of Ashley Cole at Roma, Bale pulled out a beauty during a recent training session.
Probably a little too committed to the swing though. We need more club action.
Gareth Bale haciendo la pose de golf para la foto… me meoooo ????? Es que es leyenda el tio, le amo ??? #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/9fGbllFkKH
— Cyn (@Kass_CK) May 29, 2020
Now that’s more like it.
Gareth Bale plays golf whilst Madrid lose. ?????
Spanish tabloid @elconfidencial snapped this image of of the Welsh attacker who was reportedly “unwell” whilst his Real Madrid side lost to Tottenham in the AUDI Cup.#Bale #RealMadrid #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/JhVCyA90UG
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) July 31, 2019
Bale was omitted from Real’s squad for the 2019 pre-season Audi Cup just a few days after his big-money move to China broke down. He probably should have stayed and trained in Madrid in anticipation for the new season.
Instead, he went golfing. Obviously.
It ended up triggering a real to-and-fro in the media between Bale and Zidane, who suggested that the winger was actually sick, but Bale just kept swinging away without a care in the world.
Gareth Bale ‘sleeps’ while on Real Madrid bench pic.twitter.com/CDN90DH1vv
— The Metropolitan Magazine (@Themetromag) July 11, 2020
People say Bale doesn’t embrace Spanish culture, but here he is taking a well-deserved siesta after a tough day of watching Real from the bench.
The Welshman took his face mask and used it to cover his eyes during Real’s 2-0 win over Alavés, because he couldn’t even be bothered to watch anymore. He knows his time is up.
“Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order”
Gareth Bale and Wales really celebrated their #EURO2020 qualification with this flag. ?? pic.twitter.com/T7jcFYVzhw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 19, 2019
No troll will ever match the heights of the famous “Wales. Golf. Madrid” flag.
Just to see it at a game was funny enough, but to see Bale go out of his way to laugh at the flag before take a picture dancing around with it was something else.
This was the moment that made it clear Bale had checked out. It was iconic.
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