Bale: Ronaldo's Goal Obsession Was No Problem

Gareth Bale recently shed light on his time at Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo, addressing persistent rumours of locker room friction. Bale clarified that he and Ronaldo maintained a good relationship, describing their attacking trio, known as 'BBC' with Karim Benzema, as harmonious.

Bale recounted Ronaldo's intense focus on scoring, admitting that Ronaldo would notice if passes weren't directed his way. However, Bale emphasized that this drive was understood and accepted, as Ronaldo's primary motivation was to break records and score prolifically. This obsession was not a source of conflict within the squad.

Despite Ronaldo's competitive nature, Bale shared an anecdote where Ronaldo would become furious after comfortable 5-0 victories if he personally failed to score, comparing it to a Ryder Cup player who didn't earn a point. Nonetheless, Bale insisted Ronaldo was easy to work with, provided his teammates understood his personality.

Bale also touched on Zinedine Zidane's management style, noting that tactical instructions were kept minimal, especially in non-critical matches, with more focus placed on defensive tactics for significant games.

This approach, coupled with a strong squad including the 'KCM' midfield trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modrić, and captain Sergio Ramos, led to an era of unprecedented success for Real Madrid, including three consecutive Champions League titles. Bale retired from football in January 2023, having become one of Wales's greatest players.