Gareth Bale swapped the atmosphere of hate at Real Madrid for the warm embrace of Wales on Wednesday, with his team-mates all agreeing that the world’s most expensive player is unaffected by criticism of his form.
Bale wore a smile during training that suggested he was looking forward to performing for his country in a key Euro 2016 qualifier.
An army of 30 camera crews and photographers lined the pitches at the Vale Resort in Cardiff as Chris Coleman took his squad through their paces, with all lenses trained on Bale.
But in contrast to the scrutiny he has faced in Spain, where Real fans attacked his white Bentley in the early hours of Monday, Bale looked relaxed among friends in a serene atmosphere.
Joe Allen confirmed as much. ‘He’s the same as usual,’ said the Liverpool midfielder. ‘I don’t get the impression that he is someone who is fazed by these sorts of things. It comes with the territory at a club like that. I doubt it has too much influence on him.
‘He’s a world-class player who shows that in every minute in every session. It is great to have him here. I doubt the Israelis will be looking forward to facing him at the weekend.’
Saturday’s Group B qualifier at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa offers Bale another chance to show off the talent that has been questioned in Madrid both from the stands and the media.
Spanish newspaper Marca gave him a zero rating after Real’s 2-1 loss in Barcelona last Sunday.
Swansea defender Neil Taylor, a Welsh team-mate of Bale’s for five years, said the 25-year-old takes such brutal assessments in his stride. ‘He’s become acclimatised to how his life is now with stuff like that,’ he said. ‘Gareth isn’t going to care what I think about how he’s playing, the same way he isn’t going to care what some reporters write. If you read what everyone’s opinion is of you, your confidence will be shot.’
Bale has been accused of selfishness this season, but Burnley striker Sam Vokes, back in the squad for the first time since he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament a year ago, is eager for the chance to link up with him again. ‘As a striker my last few goals for Wales have come off the back of him putting crosses into the box and getting down the line,’ he said.
Vokes said Bale has grown as a leader among the group, the result of experience gained from sustained exposure to elite competition. ‘We were doing some tactical work and you could see he brings a lot to it,’ he said. ‘He is very well spoken.’
Bale will be most eager to do his talking on the pitch.
In team news, Swansea full back Jazz Richards, who has a calf strain, has been replaced in the squad by Cardiff’s Declan John.
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