Gareth Bale reveals the reason why he rarely spoke Spanish during time at Real Madrid

Gareth Bale has revealed why he very rarely spoke Spanish during his time at Real Madrid.

Bale signed for Real in a then-world record £85.1 million move from Spurs in 2013 and spent nine seasons at Los Blancos, scoring 106 goals and winning five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, three UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups.

He scored in two different Champions League final triumphs, as well as the winner in the Copa Del Rey final and has been placed in the legends section on the club's website.

However, Bale's relationship with the fans soured as time went on and addition to being booed by his own supporters, he was also subjected to plenty of negative coverage from the media in Spain, even being branded a "parasite" by one journalist - which led to a ferocious response from the Welshman.

It was suggested that he wasn't able to speak the language during his stint in the Spanish capital, but that was put to bed when he posted a first message to LAFC fans after signing for the MLS side.

Image: Getty

And in a new interview with The Times, Bale has shed light on just why he elected against speaking the language when he was a Real player, explaining that he wanted an easy life in Madrid.

“I could speak Spanish but I wouldn’t want to because I just wanted to keep everything private and quiet and not have this big fuss around me," he admitted.

“Maybe that’s why they attacked me because I never really give a lot. They probably just didn’t understand me as a person.”

Bale did get a standing ovation in Real's 2022 Champions League parade in a nice farewell, but he won't forget the loneliness he experienced when he was jeered by 80,000 fans as he came on against Real Sociedad and even said he "just wanted to play my football and then disappear back into the darkness.”

Image: Getty

The two-time PFA Player of the Year added: “I wanted to play for Madrid, for the pristine white shirt, and there were some incredible moments.

“But also there were some hard times when you feel very lonely when everybody gets on your back and you’re getting whistled and booed, especially the first time.”

Topics: Gareth Bale, Real Madrid, La Liga

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@joshlawless_