'Bale was a wasted talent, he laughed at the club' - Real Madrid fans debate star's legacy

Gareth Bale, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid and Wales' record men's goal-scorer retired on Monday.

Bale is a definitive legend in Wales for his national team heroics and leadership, but his reputation is Real Madrid is more complicated.

"During his last years here he seemed to be laughing at the club and the fans. His attitude was never so right, not like what Real Madrid demands: class, principles. He was not up to scratch," one Real fan told SNTV on Tuesday morning.

There is a slight sense that Bale's career is unfulfilled given the way his time at Madrid petered out after scoring twice - including a flying volley - in the win over Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2018.

Injuries and a breakdown in his relationship with former Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane led to Bale becoming a peripheral figure in the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid fan also frequently suggested Bale lacked motivation to play for Madrid but was always ready to go to great lengths to play for his beloved Wales.

While celebrating a win that qualified his country for the 2020 European Championship, Bale held up a Welsh flag with the words “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order” written on it.

Cardiff-born Bale started his career at Southampton and shot to prominence at Tottenham before moving to Real in the summer of 2013 for a then-world record fee of £85.1million.

He was at the Bernabeu for the next nine years and his honours included three LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups and as many Club World Cups.

A statement from the Spanish giants expressed their "affection and love for a great legend" following Bale's announcement.

The Real statement added: "Gareth Bale was part of our team in one of the most successful eras in our history and will represent forever many of the brightest moments of the past decade. His figure will always be linked to the history and legend of our club."

Bale left Real Madrid in the summer to sign for Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles FC and scored in his final club outing in November to help them win the MLS Cup with a penalty shoot-out success over Philadelphia Union.