Gareth Bale's International Commitments Should Be Encouraging Sign for Real

Although the £85 million arrival of Gareth Bale is undoubtedly a great positive for Real Madrid and their fans, the player’s move from Tottenham also had a slightly dour undertone.

It became evident earlier in the week that even if Bale did complete his Spanish switch, he’d be linking up with the Welsh international teammates in time for the coming World Cup qualifiers, putting a short halt on celebrations.

Quite understandably, Carlo Ancelotti is worried that the attacker might be suffering from a lack of match fitness due to his Tottenham holdout over the past month.

And, as Ben Hayward of Goal.com has written, the Italian boss has drafted up a special regime in order to see his newest recruit ready to take to the Bernabeu pitch as soon as possible.

As aforementioned, Bale’s commitment to his national duties may put a spanner in those particular works and come off as frustrating to Real’s followers.

But it can also be a positive factor for all involved.

Although the aim is to ultimately improve the player, Real Madrid will largely want Bale to largely just keep on doing what he’s been doing at Tottenham for the past few years. They’ll want his body in the same shape—and perhaps most importantly of all, his mind.

Moving to a different team is never easy, never mind a new division in a new country promising a demand to adapt in terms of style and preparation.

That being said, Bale is bound to be in a fragile state right now, where the smallest upset or step that little bit too far outside his comfort zone would have a dramatic impact.

And not for the better.

While Wales may not be the most likely of candidates to progress from World Cup qualifying Group A, no player can be begrudged his desire to play international football. Just as Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels will always be released to represent Germany, Henrikh Mkhitaryan must be permitted to play for Armenia whenever he should want, for example, regardless of lack of national team power.

For Bale, the opportunity to join up with his Welsh squadmates ahead of this week’s upcoming fixtures against Macedonia and Serbia promises to bring some normality to an absolutely hectic summer.

What's more, Chris Coleman has already been reported by BBC Sport as saying that his star won't be playing for 90 minutes, giving Ancelotti something to breathe a sigh of relief over:

The player will get his opportunity to relax somewhat and simply get away from some of the hype that’s engulfed his life of late.

In a way, Ancelotti should be glad that such a chance appears. It is the perfect gate for Bale to ease himself back into La Liga matters over the space of the next week.

A player of Bale’s quality will always be able to come up with the results once the ball’s at his feet—but being in the right frame of mind to do that is what really matters. The Italian manager need not worry as the world’s most expensive player steps outside his walls.

He’ll return all the better for it.