"He doesn't defend because he doesn't want to"

BALE'S COMMITMENT BROUGHT INTO QUESTION

Gareth Bale signed for Real Madrid a year and a half ago as a global footballing sensation. The powers that be at the Bernabéu saw the Welshman as an heir to Ronaldo, although as an unnamed current member of the squad recently stated: "There's only one Cristiano".

"Bale is a great player, but he doesn't win you matches on his own", added the same source. The 25-year-old's teammates are struggling to accept his defensive lapses, a privilege which is only afforded to the Portuguese superstar.

The fact that Bale began his career as a full-back does little to help his cause: "He doesn't defend because he doesn't want to".

Bale is a free spirit, both on and off the field. Florentino Pérez was aware of the former Tottenham man's limited integration in his new squad, which is why he asked Ronaldo and Ramos to make a sustained effort to make Bale become another one of the lads.

The problem seems to lie with the player himself, who shows little interest in adapting, with a greater focus on playing golf than getting to know his teammates. Another contributing factor is Ancelotti's reluctance to play Bale in his preferred left-wing position. Controversy regarding his excessive selfish play in recent months has also put the Welshman in the firing line.
Bale is a distressed player, whose dented confidence is impinging on his normal game. He is struggling to make an impact on matches in an increasingly laboured Real Madrid side that are finding it difficult to create space.

With Ronaldo suffering a dip in form due to fitness problems and low confidence, Bale has been unable to step up as the board would have hoped. He has plenty of class, but is not even half the character or half as hungry as the goalscoring machine from Madeira.