Ancelotti defends Gareth Bale and demands “return the favour”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti called on the fans of the “Royal Club” not to forget the achievements
of the Welsh star Gareth Bale, which he achieved with “Merenghi”.
Ancelotti said that the “Royal Club” should recognize the achievements made by Gareth Bale with Real Madrid,
and asked the club’s fans to bid farewell to him in a proper and worthy manner in his last match at the
Santiago Bernabeu against Real Betis later Friday.
Gareth Bale, 32, has played only seven matches in all competitions this season, and is now close to leaving
the club as a free agent at the end of his contract this summer.
The Welsh star won the Spanish League title three times with Real Madrid and the Champions League four times,
since joining from London’s Tottenham in 2013, but his career in Spain spoiled by injuries.
“Everyone knows that Bale’s contract is coming to an end and that he will be leaving Real Madrid this year,”
Ancelotti told reporters.
Reuters quoted the Italian coach as saying: “Whether he participates or not is not important. The important
thing is that Bale is part of the history of this club and he Real Madrid fans will always remember him.”
And Ancelotti added, “Bale played a very important role in winning the tenth Champions League title and in
the Copa del Rey final. He wrote some great chapters in the history of this club, and this must recognized.”
Bale was often a target of the Spanish media, which criticized him after his absence from Real Madrid’s 4-0
defeat at home to Barcelona last March, and he some fans also booed him when he participated in his first
official match at his team’s stadium in more than two years in Last month.
On Thursday, Bale joined the new squad for Wales, which is preparing for the World Cup qualifiers against
Scotland or Ukraine, as well as three matches in the European Nations League next month.
Ancelotti defends Gareth Bale and demands “return the favour”
