football expert Terry Gibson has called a “bizarre” episode." data-reactid="12">Real Madrid are in the process of winning LaLiga, but Gareth Bale is dominating the title titles, having been sidelined by Zinedine Zidane in what Spanish football expert Terry Gibson called a “bizarre” episode.
The Los Blancos look home and lose ground ahead of Thursday’s clash with Villarreal, when the victory will mark a first championship from 2017 with a reserve game.
Real have been unstoppable since the restart, winning all nine La Liga games, but Bale has been evident in his absence from the action.
football since played resumed." data-reactid="15">The Wales forward has played a key role in many of the Bernabeu giants’ successes since he arrived from Tottenham in 2013, but managed to resume only 100 minutes of football.
Gareth Bale celebrates winning his fourth Champions League in 2018 (Nick Potts / PA)
Bale has been an unused substitute in the last five games and has raised his eyebrows with his recent grandstand behavior, having been imagined pretending to be asleep in one game and looking through imaginary binoculars in another.
football expert Gibson that Bale appears to be stagnating at the Bernabeu, he told the PA news agency: “That’s an understatement." data-reactid="37">Speaking to Spanish football expert Gibson that Bale seems to stagnate at the Bernabeu, he told the PA news agency: “It’s an understatement.
“He started one of the games from returning to the game and it doesn’t even heat up on the touch line now. He sits there.
“He had the mask closed over his eyes and pretended to sleep and the other night there is a new photo in which he has rolled something up and it looks like he is looking for a telescope at play. It is bizarre.
Gareth Bale pictured in the stands in Granada on Monday (Jose Breton / AP)
“But I think it’s a real shame. I think it’s a lesson for big clubs that when they buy these big players they have to use them because not many others can afford to take them out of their hands.
“But saying that, Gareth Bale was a success at Real Madrid. You can’t say it was a waste of money. He is not alone. James Rodriguez isn’t even on the bench now with 10 sub at Real Madrid.
“So, Gareth Bale is on the team but he doesn’t warm up, he doesn’t turn on and he’s just bizarre.”
football during his playing days, having swapped Manchester United for a Wimbledon side he would help win the FA Cup in 1988." data-reactid="63">Gibson left a gigantic club in search of first-team football during his game days, after swapping Manchester United with a Wimbledon team that would help win the English Cup in 1988.
Terry Gibson was part of the Wimbledon team that won the FA Cup in 1988 (PA)
Last year Bale had seemed close to a move to China and the Covid-19 situation has certainly reduced the pool of potential destinations this summer.
The thirty-year-old is still two years old in his big deal at Bernabeu and LaLigaTV expert Gibson believes Zidane should focus on getting the best out of him.
“He should play every week for Real Madrid,” said Gibson. “He should still be an important player. But clearly it is not.
“I don’t know how it will end. I can imagine him staying there another year and doing the same again.
Former Tottenham, Coventry, Manchester United and Wimbledon player Terry Gibson is a LaLigaTV expert (LaLiga)
football meant a lot to me." data-reactid="112">“I left the clubs because you weren’t playing. I had to cut wages when I left Manchester United to go to Wimbledon – not to the extent Gareth Bale will do it – but a few hundred pounds to play first team football meant a lot to me.
“For Gareth Bale, it’s just strange. The ambition must still be there and I’m sure it is and is satisfied with what it has done in its career. “
Zidane was asked about Bale’s situation in his press conference previewing Real’s clash with Villarreal on Thursday, when rivals closest to Barcelona, at four worst points, host Osasuna.
“The latter is nowhere for Barcelona and Real Madrid,” added Gibson. “It must be the best.
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“Real Madrid will deserve to win it if they win it, which they should do now.
“They need two points in the last two games, so now it’s practically done.
“The race from shooting the game, nine straight wins, that deserves to win the title alone.
“I don’t think it’s the best version of Real Madrid or the best version of Barcelona, but it was a different Real Madrid.”
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