Gareth Bale Urged to Rebel Against Cristiano Ronaldo to Save Real Madrid Career

Gareth Bale can still save his Real Madrid career, according to Sky Sports and Bleacher Report Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, but it may mean upsetting club icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Welshman turned in another nondescript performance for Los Blancos in the team’s 2-1 Champions League semi-final defeat away to Juventus on Tuesday, prompting criticism from fans and media alike.

There has also been plenty of discussion surrounding Bale’s long-term future with the club, with both Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly interested, as noted by John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

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But speaking with Sky Sports, Balague claimed that a bit more boisterousness in demanding the ball—even at Ronaldo’s expense—will go a long way:

"

Sometimes you feel that Cristiano Ronaldo being there doesn’t help, because he wants the ball, wants everything to go through him, and I think Gareth Bale has proved too shy about that.

He should rebel, he should rebel against all that and we’ll see a Gareth Bale similar to the one who was at Spurs and certainly the one we see when he plays for Wales.

"

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At full tilt, the former Tottenham Hotspur star is an eminent presence in games. Bale is a thrilling dribbler and boasts superb energy, and during his maiden campaign in the iconic all-white kit would often float off his customary position on the right flank to pick the ball up in dangerous areas.

But Bale has been a peripheral figure of late, no more so than in that defeat against the Bianconeri, as we can see here courtesy of Eurosport.com:

There are clearly massive expectations on the 25-year-old after his world-record transfer to the Spanish giants was backed up by an excellent first season. But you get the impression he’s still very much a confidence player, and though some extra conviction would go a long way, it isn't necessarily easy to come by.

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Indeed, Bleacher Report’s Adam Digby actually thinks Bale actually carried out a diligent tactical role with distinction against Juventus:

However, Madridistas and the football firmament as a whole want to see the Welshman trailblazing around the pitch in his bespoke manner, and it’s going to be intriguing to see how Carlo Ancelotti goes about expediting a turnaround in fortunes for the player. But you don’t foresee his taking some of the emphasis away from Ronaldo.

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After all, as noted by WhoScored.com, the Portuguese sensation is relishing being Real’s main man, as he has done for years:

As Los Blancos’ successful Champions League campaign illustrated emphatically last season, Bale and Ronaldo can both function in the same team. That should be the ultimate aim here, not for one player to try and enhance his own standing in the side at the expense of another extremely important component.

Perhaps Bale needs one to go in off his backside, or maybe he just needs an arm around him from the Italian coach. But Madrid will be a better side with the Welshman firing, and with some massive fixtures on the horizon, it’s vital they get their No. 11 back to a level near his brilliant best.