Gareth Bale's Real Madrid Boos Do Not Mean the End of Bernabeu Stay

Gareth Bale may be the most expensive footballer on the planet, but that fact does not shield the Welshman from the criticism of his fans.

With sections of the Bernabeu again booing him in the 4-1 defeat of Real Sociedad, does this signal the beginning of the end for the forward, or is it just a rite of passage for any Galactico?

Bale’s first season in the Spanish capital lived up to all expectations, the pinnacles of which were goals in both the Copa del Rey final and the epic Champions League victory.

Statistics this term show little difference from that illustrious debut, with one goal every two games in the 2014-15 season in all competitions (14 goals from 28 appearances) compared to the same goals-per-game ratio in 2013-14 (22 goals from 44 appearances).

The all-around play of the Real Madrid forward line has been as scintillating as it was last campaign. With the premature Copa del Rey exit to bitter rivals Atletico Madrid the only negative so far, Los Blancos sit at the summit of La Liga and have a consecutive Champions League title firmly in their sights.

This season also heralded a record-breaking run of 22 wins in a row, a sequence that was achieved over a stunning four-month period.

So why have the Madridistas turned on one of their own?

The heart of the reason is the accusation that Bale is selfish with the ball. The seeds of criticism were sown through a series of incidents in which the former Tottenham Hotspur player failed to pass to Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, instead opting for a shooting opportunity.

Ronaldo’s negative reactions (an example of which can be seen in the footage below) instantly created a schism in the eyes of the crowd, and in this scenario, there will only ever be one winner.

The problem is that these momentary flashes of frustration from the Portuguese superstar do not point to a permanent underlying issue. However, the insatiable media have jumped on the events and created the narrative of Ronaldo vs. Bale, as Spanish newspaper Marca illustrates in its headline "Cristiano and the Bernabeu angry with ball hog Bale," (h/t Sky Sports).

The Wales international is in a difficult situation.

CR7 is a living deity to Real’s fans, and he has carte blanche to keep hold of the ball, shoot when desired and generally play with a freedom that comes with proving himself to be world class again and again. Bale is striving to hit those same heights, but he is doing so in the shadow of Ronaldo’s greatness and without the autonomy to do whatever he pleases.

The below statistics from Sky Sports' Twitter page show that, in fact, Bale passes more regularly to Ronaldo and to greater effect:

Nevertheless, statistics mean nothing to the faction of fans targeting the £85 million signing. The lightning-quick attacker is not the first to face this gauntlet of anger. In fact, he is in illustrious company.

Only this season, World Cup winner Iker Casillas drew jeers from the home support. Striker Karim Benzema has also been heavily criticised at various stages of his career with the club, including during Real’s poor start to this campaign. The Frenchman bit back, per AS, via Goal.com:

"

I am at a big club and there is always a lot expected of me. I am a Real Madrid striker and that means I have to score in every game. That’s the way it is,' Benzema was quoted as saying by AS.

I was booed last season. Iker Casillas has been booed. All of the great players who have played for Madrid have been booed: Ronaldo, [Zinedine] Zidane...

For me it’s not a problem. I will continue to work hard to change the situation.

We’ll talk about what I’ve won when my career is over. I play for a huge club. I know there is a lot of expectation.

"

History shows that elements of the European champions' fanbase have always suffered from a desire for absolute perfection coupled with periods when individual players are singled out for condemnation.

It almost seems like a test.

The Welshman must follow in the footsteps of others who have been barracked from the stands and keep focused on the task at hand, which is improving individually and winning collectively with Real Madrid. The backing of Carlo Ancelotti is not in doubt, and the Italian was quick to point out that much of the crowd still supports Bale, per the Daily Mail:

"

Ancelotti was quick to defend his player and reminded those questioning his relationship with the fans that he was also cheered at certain stages of last weekend's win over Real Sociedad.

He said at a press conference: 'Bale being selfish? Gareth is doing everything he can to help the team. The Bernabeu also applauded him two or three times last Saturday.'

"

Determination and the will to succeed are key traits of the world's most costly player and primary reasons why the 25-year-old was able to go from Tottenham jinx to Ballon d’Or nominee. The Welshman now faces the biggest test of his Spanish adventure, but he has never been a man to shirk a challenge.

Let’s not forget that Gareth Bale can still do all of this: