Bale shines in new Real Madrid role amid Spurs links
Robin Bairner
- 12 Feb 2022 12:21 CST
- 3 min read
Gareth Bale’s future lies away from Real Madrid, but head coach Carlo Ancelotti has shown that he will not allow that to stop him making best use of the Wales international star.
Bale has recently been laid up because of several issues that have deprived him of the field since August. First it was a knee injury, then Covid-19 and back trouble prevented him from taking the field. He made the bench in each of Madrid’s last two league matches but took no part.
During this time, his future has been widely speculated upon. Tottenham have been linked with a move for their former player, while it has even been speculated that he could retire at the end of the season if Wales do not qualify for World Cup 2022.
Watching clubs, though, will have been impressed with Bale’s contribution against Villarreal.
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Bale's new position
Having started his career as a left-back, he developed into a winger, but in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Villarreal, he played as a pure No.9 in the absence of Karim Benzema, who Madrid have struggled badly without.
Bale was a surprise inclusion in Ancelotti’s starting XI but caught the eye with his display and was hailed as one of Real Madrid’s best players. Marca even went as far to describe his performance as “outstanding”.
Indeed, much of Madrid’s best play on the day came through Bale, who was unfortunate to find goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in outstanding form for Villarreal. On three occasions he was thwarted by the goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, there was not a hint of playing as a false 9 in this game from the Welshman. His role was simply to get on the end of things in the box.
Bale showed that he could adapt to playing as a No.9, and this revelation could even extend his career, if not for Real Madrid, then perhaps for Tottenham or another club.
