Bale included in Real Madrid legends list despite 'Wales, Golf, Madrid' controversy

The Welsh star ended his nine-year association with the Spanish giants at the end of last season after a glittering career at the Bernabeu.

Despite winning a staggering 19 trophies and scoring 106 goals in 258 appearances for the club, Bale was a divisive figure among his own supporters after emerging as a bit of a pantomime villain in Spain.

Accused of putting his international commitment with Wales - and even playing golf - above the needs of his employers, Bale riled fans further back in 2019 by unveiling a flag that read 'Wales, Golf, Madrid in that order' after helping the Dragons qualify for the 2020 European Championships.

In the past two seasons, Bale has started just 11 times for Real Madrid, making 26 appearances in the process, as he was shipped out on loan to Tottenham for the 2020/21 campaign.

But, despite his time in LaLiga ending on something of a sour note, it's clear that the forward's legacy at the Bernabeu lives on.

Written on the legends' section of the Real Madrid website, it says: "Gareth Bale has been a central figure in one of our club's most successful eras, winning five European Cups, three of them consecutively, between 2014 and 2022.

"The Welshman arrived at Real Madrid at 24 years of age and was unveiled on 2 September 2013 before making his debut on 14 September at El Madrigal against Villarreal. He also marked his first Madridista appearance with a goal.

"In his impressive spell in our colours, Bale compiled an remarkable collection of trophies: 5 Champions Leagues, 4 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 3 LaLiga titles, 1 Copa del Rey and 3 Spanish Super Cups.

"Bale hit over a century of goals for Real Madrid, and the greatest of his 106 strikes will live long in the memory, a spectacular overhead-kick in the final which yielded La Decimotercera against Liverpool. That's not to mention his header in the final for La Décima or his lung-busting run and finish in the 2014 Copa del Rey final.

"On an individual level, the Welsh international was named Player of the 2018 Champions League Final in Kiev and won the Golden Ball at the Club World Cup in 2018."

Bale will be pleased with the honour, although he surely would have liked the same kind of send-off from supporters in person before his departure.

The mood towards Bale from fans and the Spanish press was beyond sour before his extract expired, with newspapers branding him a 'parasite' after watching him play for Wales, despite missing games for Real through injury.

Bale responded to those scathing remarks, calling them 'disgusting' and insisting that making an official response would be 'a waste of time'.

Asked if he would like to send his critics in Spain a message, the Welsh superstar said back in March: "No! I don't need to send a message, honestly.

"I don't need to send a message, it's a waste of my time, it's disgusting and they should all be ashamed of themselves.

"I'm not fussed, end of.

"I don't listen to any of them, it's a waste of time. It doesn't affect you, not when you don't read it, so it doesn't matter what they write. I could say something but it's better not to."