How Gareth Bale Can Win the Love of the Real Madrid Fans

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims he will not sell Gareth Bale.

"We shall never listen to any offers for Bale. He is the key to the club's future, just as I cannot imagine a future without Cristiano Ronaldo," he told Marca.

If Bale is to stay in the Spanish capital, he has a lot to do to keep earning his place both in the team and, harder still, in the fans' hearts.

Between the incident when a couple of idiotic supporters attacked his car after the Clasico defeat, and 68.3 percent of voters in an AS poll wanting him out of the side, the pressure is on Bale right now.

Scoring the winning goals in the Copa del Rey final and, effectively, the Champions League final bought him some time, but the hourglass is almost empty.

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So what can Bale do to get back in the good books at the Santiago Bernabeu?

Firstly and most importantly, he has to have more of an effect on the pitch.

Madrid made him the most expensive footballer in history so he could win the club games, and not just now and then. He needs to do it on a regular basis.

Cristiano Ronaldo is 30 and Bale is the man Perez wants, and needs, to take his crown.

Marca's Miguel Serrano believes that to get the best of Bale you have to play him in the centre, as an attacking midfielder, like Wales do.

Bale scored twice and got an assist in his country's 3-0 destruction of Israel at the weekend.

Serrano wrote:

"

For Wales, Bale plays as an attacking midfielder. He starts his attacks from the centre of the pitch, and so may arrive at the goal area on either side, although he prefers to be make his appearances on the left. His potential to hurt the rivals is therefore doubled, as are his chances to shoot and get on the end of rebounds. When on the defence, he is free to do as he feels fit.

"

However, it's hard to see that happening, at least while Carlo Ancelotti is in charge.

The Italian likes using Bale and Ronaldo as inverted wingers, with Isco, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and, after he returns from injury, James Rodriguez, taking up the central roles in the team.

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However, Ancelotti's conversion of Angel di Maria to "interior" was a brilliant move and one that he might consider making again, with Bale.

The problem is Di Maria is an intelligent, technically superb footballer. Bale is a great player, too, but speed and power are his strengths, and he doesn't have the footwork that someone like Isco uses in midfield.

Bale must keep working on that, continuing the extra training he is undertaking with Paul Clement, per AS. Joaquin Maroto wrote:

"

Bale is an incredible physical presence, and one of the fastest players in the world, who can best exploit a wing of a football pitch. The aim of Real’s coaching staff, and particularly Paul Clement, is take that and improve his technique and above all his tactical awareness, to make Bale an out and out Galactico. The coaches have talked about it with the Welshman and asked him to make an effort; a challenge he accepted willingly.

"

After accusations of selfishness were slung at him, Bale seemed more reluctant to shoot, which hampered his game slightly, too.

Away from the pitch, there are also things that Bale can do to be appreciated by the supporters.

While they may never take to him the same way they have done to Isco, who feels like "one of their own," the Welshman can work on his appeal in several ways.

Learning Spanish, for one.

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In an interview with Cadena SER radio show El Larguero, Bale's words were spoken over the top of by a translator.

There's no shame in not being able to conduct a full interview in a foreign language, but if the fans can hear Bale speak in Spanish, he will instantly be more likeable.

He is taking lessons, but Bale should consider stepping them up.

Furthermore, he could be more integrated into the culture. In that radio interview he said, as reported by the Daily Mail:

"

I go out for food quite a lot but try and hide it, and go under the radar. I like to go out with my family and friends and try to live life as normal. I've been there (Gran Via, a main street in Madrid) a few times with family and friends, trying to keep a low profile, wearing a hat. It's nice to come out and experience parts of Madrid.

"

This is all very well, but it seems the exception, rather than the rule.

Nobody expects Bale to be exploiting Madrid's nightlife, in fact that would have the opposite effect, but raising his profile in the city, at cultural attractions, would also be of benefit to him.

The one other thing Bale could do is add a bit of spice, a bit of fury.

We saw it in his raging celebration against Levante, covering his ears and kicking the corner flag after ending his eight-game run without a goal or assist.

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This fire is important. Football is about passion and it doesn't always seem that players like Bale have that.

It's not necessarily his fault. These days players are media-trained, aware not to say anything untoward or remotely controversial.

Unfortunately, this can give the impression that they are boring.

Barcelona's Neymar is a good example of how social media can make a player seem integrated and interested in their new life, interacting with their fans and posting pictures with his colleagues, demonstrating strong team spirit. Perhaps Bale could follow his lead.

These little touches are not essential, but would encourage some of the fanbase to see him in a more favourable light, while he finds his form again.