Bale will never reach his fullest potential in the Spanish capital.
One of the most pleasing things about Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid is seeing how well he’s settled in both on and off the pitch. A highly likeable British player making a name for himself is always a great sight, particularly now as it happens with such low frequency. However, despite his good form, there is one thing that he, and all connected to him have to be careful of – he may never reach his full potential whilst at the club.
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What made Bale so impressive at Spurs, was that he virtually carried that team on his own despite being so young. He showed no signs of shirking from his responsibility and was always on form even though the pressure on him must have been immense.
Since his arrival in the Spanish capital, he has not been relied on so heavily, instead forming a part of a terrifically strong cohesive unit.
However, any player that joins Real Madrid is forced to play in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow. No matter how good you are, it’s sadly just the way it goes.
Wales are thriving in their Euro 2016 qualifying group thanks to Bale being the focal point of everything they do. The Welsh national side are in a better position than they’ve ever been to qualify for a major tournament, and though this group of players are getting stronger, they’re still, at heart, rather mediocre.
Recently, the likes of Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey have not been pulling their weight for the Dragons, and Bale has been forced to take on the extra responsibility in their absences.
Because Bale can only really thrive when the team is built around him.
Bale’s freedom to play anywhere across the front of an attacking midfield is hampered by the other excellent options Real have at their disposal. Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, James Rodriguez and even Luca Modric all prevent him from becoming the focal point of the team.
His time in Madrid will be fruitful for him, no doubt. He’s playing amongst the best players in the world and winning things on what looks to be a consistent basis (at the time of writing Madrid are walking it to the La Liga title), but he should be careful not to stay at the club for too long, and move on before he becomes part of a system rather than the maverick he truly is.
There are a shortage of maverick players coming from the UK. It seems that they are bred that way but have it ironed out of them not long after being integrated into a first team. Sure, they need to serve a wider purpose, but they’re part of what make football so exciting, and the Welshman in the most exciting player these British isles have got.
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