Real Madrid News
“Can’t forget what he did”: Ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona forward defends Gareth Bale
It is not surprising that Gareth Bale’s popularity in Madrid is not high. The Welsh international was barely a part of the team dynamics in his final years at the club and disrespected the institution on multiple occasions.
Earlier this week, Real Madrid legend Luis Figo was quizzed on his thoughts about Bale’s contributions to the club. As revealed via 90min, the legend defended the Welsh star and said he achieved great things with the club.
“Bale played for Real Madrid for a long time. For some time it worked very well. In terms of performance, he achieved very important personal moments but suffered many injuries.”
While Figo admitted that Bale’s final years at the club were far from impressive, he urged fans not to forget his important contributions.
“His last spell at the club was not positive because he did not play due to injuries. I think in his last phase with Real Madrid he could have done better. But you can’t forget what he did for the club.”
Last month, the forward confirmed that he would be leaving the club after spending close to ten years in Madrid. He won five UEFA Champions League and three La Liga titles during his stay with Los Blancos.
On 27th June, LAFC revealed that they had signed the forward on a 12-month contract. He is set to make his MLS debut in the coming month and will look to return to his best form for the American side.
Luis Figo played for Los Blancos from 2000 to 2005, making 164 appearances and scoring 34 goals. He was most famous for making the controversial move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 which fuelled up the El Clasico rivalry.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
