Bale has no regrets about Real Madrid career despite 'hard times'

Gareth Bale has opened up about his time at Real Madrid, claiming that he has no regrets over the way his Bernabeu career played out.

Though the Welsh icon made key contributions in a glittering nine years with Los Blancos, winning three LaLiga titles and five Champions League medals, his relationship with the club's supporters rapidly deteriorated.

In an interview with The Times, Bale said: "I joined to play with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso. It was an incredible opportunity.

"You sign as a Galactico and they expect you to be everywhere. I just wanted to play my football and disappear. I could speak Spanish but I wouldn't want to because I just wanted to keep everything private.

"Maybe that's why they attacked me, because I never really gave a lot. Whatever happened, I learned to leave it at the stadium. It's a game of football — it's not going home.

"The players were good. I don't think I ever had an argument with anyone, even through the hard times."

Special memories

Bale left under a cloud last summer, making just seven appearances in his final season, but still has fond memories of playing in a white shirt.

On his stunning bicycle kick against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, he said: "It probably wasn't set up for an overhead kick but if you don't gamble in finals, you're not going to win.

"I had three-quarters of a second to think. I've always had the mentality to go for things. That's probably what's helped me on the biggest stage to produce the big moment."

Bale conjured even more magic in the red of Wales, starring in qualification for both Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup — the nation's first for 64 years.

He said: "I'm probably still not aware of how big that is.

"We're disappointed with the way we played in the World Cup. It's a shame but we also need to understand what an incredible job we did to break that curse."