Gareth Bale: Oktober 2013

Selasa, 08 Oktober 2013

Gareth Bale will make final call on his fitness for Wales against Serbia

Gareth Bale will undergo a scan to determine the extent of his groin problem before Tuesday's game between Wales and Serbia. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Chris Coleman has not given up hope that Gareth Bale will declare himself fit to feature at some stage against Serbia on Tuesday night but the Wales manager has warned Real Madrid that it would represent a "big gamble" to start the world's most expensive footballer against Villarreal on Saturday.
Bale injured his groin in training on Thursday, before Wales's 2-1 World Cup defeat in Macedonia the following evening, when Coleman named the 24-year-old on the substitutes' bench but had no intention of using him. Although Bale trained with the Wales squad on Sunday, Coleman revealed that the forward requested a scan on his groin on Monday "just to clear his mind so he knows he is all right", before playing a full part in a closed session at Cardiff City Stadium.
Coleman said he was under no pressure from Madrid to leave the £86m player on the sidelines and that it would be down to Bale to decide whether he feels up to making his first appearance since a pre-season friendly for Tottenham Hotspur against Swindon on 16 July.
The Wales manager made it clear that Bale "is never going to be available to start" in the World Cup qualifier and suggested that Madrid should tread carefully when it comes to Saturday's La Liga fixture.
Bale, according to Coleman, has completed only four training sessions in the past eight weeks and one of those was a one-on-one workout with the Wales physio, Sean Connelly, before the friendly against the Republic of Ireland last month, when the player was struggling with a foot problem. Although Bale has recovered from that injury, he complained to Coleman that his groin was causing him discomfort on the morning of the Macedonia match.
"There's a picture of him [in training on Thursday] and, as he kicks the ball, the turf comes away, his ankle rolls and he gets a bit of a strain with his groin," Coleman said. "He continues with the session, wakes up in the morning and it's tight and I can see what he's thinking. If he had had 10 games building up to it, it wouldn't have been in his head. But he hasn't had anything.
"And he's thinking if he starts, or if he comes on, and that turns into something bigger, it doesn't look good for him first and foremost. Friday morning before the game he told me he wasn't ready. I wouldn't push anybody to take that chance. Saying that, if he comes back [from the scan] and says he's feeling better, it's not even an issue.
"If Gareth says to me he can play a part, then he is coming on to the pitch. I have to take Gareth's word. He always turns up for Wales – if he didn't want to be here, then he wouldn't be here. God knows he's got excuses not to be."
Asked whether he believed Bale would be ready to start for Madrid against Villarreal, Coleman said: "I don't know. Physically it's a big gamble. Especially if he plays some part for us and then he has to travel back. As a manager you would never dream of going back into pre-season having four sessions and organising a friendly, even a pre-season one, never mind an international qualifier after that many sessions.
"La Liga is a different tempo to the Premier League but I'd be surprised if he starts. I understand they've got a problem with Cristiano Ronaldo but it's a big, big ask to do four sessions [and then play]. Gareth's a super athlete, he's not got an ounce of fat on him but even him, if you see him in the sessions with us – and we're not full pelt – he's not quite there. It will be up to him. If he says he can play a part [for Real Madrid], he'll be on the pitch no doubt."
With or without Bale, Coleman will be picking from a threadbare squad for a game that Wales have to win to have any chance of achieving the third-place finish the manager has targeted to give them a higher seeding and, in turn, a potentially easier draw for the 2016 European Championship.
Ashley Williams is suspended, Jonathan Williams faces six weeks out after damaging knee ligaments in Macedonia and Sam Ricketts is doubtful with a knee problem.
The absence of Ashley Williams means that Aaron Ramsey could be given the captaincy for the first time since the 6-1 defeat in Serbia 12 months ago.
"I always believed one day Aaron would be the captain again. I think he just had to concentrate on his own game and he's done that," Coleman said.
"He's been brilliant with Arsenal, he comes with us and he runs the game. From where he was last year to now, mentally he's in a different place."
Wales (4-2-3-1, probable): Myhill; Matthews, Gabbidon, Davies, Gunter; Vaughan, Ledley; Collison, Ramsey, Robson-Kanu; Bellamy.
Serbia (4-5-1, probable) Stojkovic; Ivanovic, Bisevac, Nastasic, Kolarov; Tadic, Duricic, Markovic, Fejsa, Radovanovic; Dordevic. Referee S Marciniak

Cristiano Ronaldo says understanding with Gareth Bale is growing

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring with Gareth Bale, left, in their 6-1 Champions League win against Galatasaray. Photograph: Burak Kara/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo has said his understanding with Gareth Bale is growing match by match after the two played their parts in Real Madrid's 6-1 Champions League win at Galatasaray.
"We are getting to know each other," Ronaldo said. "He is steadily getting up to speed because he has been out of action for a while and it is all going well for him."
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to cap a good week for the Portuguese forward in which he agreed a new contract which ties him to Real until 2018 and makes him the world's highest-paid player at €18m (£15m) a year after tax.
"The last few days have been great for me," Ronaldo said. "I am very pleased. We did what we had to do, which was to win, and the others drew [Copenhagen holding Juventus 1-1] which is even better. Our next two games are at home so if we win them we will be doing really well towards making the next stage."
Bale came on as a second-half substitute and played a part in setting up the fourth and fifth goals for Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Bale joked at his official presentation that Ronaldo was the boss when it came to team hierarchy and the taking of free-kicks, but the midfielder got to take the set piece that led to Ronaldo's second goal.
"It was great to be back in the Champions League again," Bale, who scored on his league debut against Villarreal at the weekend, said. "It was nice to be able to contribute immediately, taking the free-kick. It was fantastic to be involved in all three of the goals at the end.
"It was important to be able to show what we can do. It was great to play for a bit to help me improve my physical fitness."

Gareth Bale 'came cheaply' to Real Madrid, says Florentino Pérez

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale leaves the field after injuring himself before the game against Getafe at the Bernabéu. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has claimed that Manchester United made an offer to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur this summer but missed out on the Welshman when he joined the Spanish club instead.
Perez also insisted the club did not pay over the odds for Bale despite the Welshman costing a world-record fee.
The 24-year-old moved to Real from Tottenham earlier this month for €100m (£85.3m) after negotiations that lasted the entire summer transfer window.
"Bale has come cheaply," Pérez told Cadena SER radio. "Signing the best players out there is Madrid's philosophy and Bale was the best available player on the market this summer. We had been following him for two years.
"Tottenham did not want to sell. We learned that Manchester United had made an offer and we made one ourselves."
Key to Bale's switch to Madrid was the fact he would be fulfilling his boyhood dream, Pérez saying: "Since childhood he had had the dream of playing for Real Madrid and he asked us to make it possible for him to come."
Shortly after Bale's move to the Bernabeu, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a three-year contract extension and stated he wished to finish his career with Real after a period when he was linked with a move away - and a possible return to Manchester United.
Perez said: "The renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo has been easy – he is determined to finish his career at Real Madrid. Cristiano never spoke of money with me."
Of Mesut Özil, who made a shock transfer to Arsenal at the end of the transfer window, Pérez added: "It was the father of the player who made contact with Arsenal. No one leaves Real Madrid if they don't want to go."
The Real coach Carlo Ancelotti expects Bale to be fit to make his home debut against Atlético Madrid on Saturday. The Welshman was due to face Getafe at the Bernabéu on Saturday, but a thigh injury he suffered in the warm-up ruled him out of the match.
Real host the in-form Atlético on Saturday, with their visitors holding a 100% record after five games and sitting two points ahead of Ancelotti's team.
Given Atlético's form, Ancelotti will be hoping to put out his strongest side, which would include Bale. He said: "Gareth Bale trained individually today. He should be fit for Saturday's match."

Carlo Ancelotti says Gareth Bale will not join Wales squad and will instead stay in Madrid

Gareth Bale will NOT be leaving Spain during the international break, despite being named in the Wales squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The winger, who joined Real Madrid from Spurs in a world record £86 million transfer over the summer, has a thigh injury and is not fit to play for his country against Macedonia or Belgium.
He was nevertheless named in the Dragons' squad but Real boss Carlo Ancelotti told The Sun: "He'll stay here to train for 15 days.
"We have to co-ordinate with Wales but I think he'll stay here.
"That way he'll be ready for the match against Malaga after the break."

Gareth Bale goes house-hunting after Real Madrid move.. at Arsenal new-boy Ozil's place

Gareth Bale is moving in on Mesut Ozil’s place at Real Madrid - by buying his £1million house.
Bale and his partner Emma are understood to have looked to Ozil’s upmarket property in the Spanish capital’s La Moraleja district.
Arsenal’s record £42m signing Ozil has put his property on the market with estate agents who have offered it for rent or permanent sale.
It is in an area known as Madrid’s Beverley Hills and is where Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo lives and where David Beckham used to have a house.
Bale has been tipped to buy a property there and Ozil’s plush pad makes perfect sense, with the German star now looking to buy a place in North London.
It is believed that Bale’s lawyers are trying to negotiate a deal - but there could yet be a hitch.
Emma, who has a young baby Alba, wants a final say on the style and decoration of any house the family move into.

Cristiano Ronaldo hails Gareth Bale partnership as Real Madrid romp home (again)

Cristiano Ronaldo insists that he is already forging a deadly partnership with Gareth Bale.
The former Tottenham star contributed to three goals after coming off the bench for Real Madrid in their 6-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray.
Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in Turkey, said:
"We're getting to know each other, Gareth is adapting and finding his rhythm as he had been inactive for a long time.
"Things are coming off for him and it's going well.
Ex-Manchester United ace Ronaldo, who signed a new deal until 2018 this week, added:
"It's almost impossible to celebrate my contract in a better way.
"Real want to win their 10th Champions League title - it's our objective."

Gareth Bale faces waiting game to see if he will be fit for Madrid derby

Gareth Bale has received a scan on his injured thigh and faces a anxious wait to see if he is fit to make his home debut for Real Madrid in next weekend's derby clash against Atletico Madrid.
The world's most expensive player was due to make his Bernabeu bow last night against Getafe , but felt a tweak in his left thigh during the warm up and was left out of the side as a precaution.
Bale underwent tests on Monday morning at the Sanitas hospital in La Moraleja which revealed the damage to be "muscle fatigue".
The statement on Real Madrid's website read: "After the tests carried out today on Gareth Bale at the Sanitas La Moraleja hospital, fatigue in the left thigh muscle was found. It will be treated."
It is not known when the €100million signing from Tottenham will be available to make his third Madrid appearance but reports in Spain suggest he will miss Wednesday's trip to Elche but could be fit to face Atletico on Saturday.
Ancelotti felt that could be the case following Madrid's 4-1 win over Getafe.
"It is difficult to recover in three days, I am sure he will be ready for the game on Saturday," said the Italian.
"Today he had a small problem and we hope it is resolved quickly."
He added in the post-match press conference: "He is very upset at the moment because he was desperate to play his first game at the Bernabeu.
"I don't think it is a big problem, we have to wait until tomorrow to do a scan to see how bad the injury is.
"He wasn't comfortable, he was worried and so it was better to avoid problems."
The 24-year-old Bale only played 45 minutes in pre-season with Tottenham prior to his record-breaking move to Madrid, plus half an hour for Wales in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
He then played 60 minutes on his Madrid debut against Villarreal last week, where he scored his side's opening goal in a 2-2 draw, and also featured as a second-half substitute in the midweek Champions League win at Galatasaray.

Gareth Bale determined to 'pay back' Real Madrid fans for reception in La Liga

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale has claimed that he will need to improve if he is to gain the support of the club's fans.
Saturday evening marked the former Tottenham Hotspur man's first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu, since he joined for a world record-breaking £86m last month.
However, a dream debut was not to be as Carlo Ancelotti's side were beaten 1-0 by local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Bale appeared as a second-half substitute but was unable to affect the outcome as Diego Simeone's side beat their illustrious neighbours for the first time in La Liga since 1999 - a stat which stretches back 23 fixtures.
Diego Costa's 11th minute strike was enough for Atletico, and Bale gave himself a forthright appraisal after the game.
“I went on in the second half and I felt good but I have to improve,” Bale said.
"It was a fantastic experience and I have to play better every day to pay back that affection."
The defeat leaves Madrid five points off both Barcelona and Atleti, who have both made perfect starts to their La Liga by winning all seven games each.
Los Blancos entertain Danish outfit Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Gareth Bale thigh injury rules him out of Real Madrid's Champions League game with FC Copenhagen

Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Real Madrid's Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday because of a thigh problem.
The world's most expensive player was left out of Carlo Ancelotti's 21-man squad for the clash at the Bernabeu after training apart from his team-mates on Tuesday afternoon in the club's gym.
A statement on the Madrid website yesterday confirmed Bale was struggling with a thigh problem and would undergo tests today.
The statement read: "Gareth Bale has not trained with the group due to muscular discomfort in the left thigh. The diagnosis is subject to further tests that will take place tomorrow."
And now those tests have been conducted it has been confirmed the Welshman has suffered a muscle contracture in his thigh.
A new statement read: "After the tests carried out today, the player Gareth Bale has been diagnosed with a muscle contracture in his left thigh. It remains to be seen how the condition develops."
Bale missed last Wednesday's trip to Elche with "muscle fatigue" in the same thigh after feeling a tweak during the warm-up ahead of the match against Getafe on September 22, which prevented the 24-year-old from making his home debut for Madrid in that game.
However, he did make his first Bernabeu appearance during Saturday's derby with Atletico Madrid, where he played the whole of the second half in the 1-0 loss.
That was Bale's third appearance for the Spanish giants since his record-breaking 100million euro signing from Tottenham.
He only played 45 minutes in pre-season with Spurs, plus half an hour for Wales in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
He then played 60 minutes on his Madrid debut against Villarreal, where he scored his side's opening goal in a 2-2 draw, and also featured as a second-half substitute in the Champions League win at Galatasaray prior to the Getafe match.