“Former Forward Gareth Bale Reveals Cristiano Ronaldo’s Kindness, Denies Rumors of Conflict at Real Madrid

“The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema was one of the reasons I joined Real Madrid. I wanted to play with both of them, as well as the players behind like Modric, Alonso, and later, Toni,” Bale said in an interview with The Times…. Bale left Tottenham to move to the Bernabeu in 2013 for a then-record fee of $110 million. During his eight seasons with Real, he won three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, three Club World Cups, and five Champions League trophies.

At Real, Bale formed part of the famous BBC trio alongside Ronaldo and Benzema. They were instrumental in Real’s legendary team that won three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018. There were numerous speculations about the competition for the top spot between Ronaldo and Bale, but the former Welsh player denied any conflicts.

“All the players at Real were great. I know people talked about my relationship with Ronaldo, but I never had any issues with anyone. Even in difficult times, Ronaldo was always kind in the dressing room. Honestly, I was really happy during my time at Real,” he said.

Once the world’s most expensive player, Bale revealed that he wanted to disappear whenever he heard the nickname “Galactico,” which was associated with Real’s star-studded lineup. His final days at the Bernabeu were not smooth. He lost his place in the starting lineup and faced criticism from fans for perceived lack of dedication. Nevertheless, the 33-year-old former forward asserted that he had no regrets about joining Real.

“I wanted to wear the Real shirt, and I had some incredible moments there. But there were also very difficult times that made me feel extremely lonely,” Bale opened up.

After parting ways with Real, Bale moved to the United States to play for LAFC before retiring in January 2023. Throughout his 17-year professional career, he scored 185 goals in 553 club appearances. With the Welsh national team, Bale’s 111 caps and 41 goals remain records.”