Courtois criticises Bale for not adapting to Madrid lifestyle

Thibaut Courtois has claimed that Gareth Bale has failed to adapt to the Madrid lifestyle since his move to La Liga.

Bale has enjoyed a successful spell in Madrid since joining from Tottenham in 2013 but has struggled to endear himself the club’s fans and his teammates.

Is Bale’s Real Madrid stay coming to an end? Five key things to know…

1. Bale won the Champions League and the Copa del Rey during his first season at Madrid, scoring in the final of both competitions.
2. The Welshman has also won a La Liga title and three more Champions League trophies at the Bernabeu.
3. However, Bale has sometimes failed to meet the lofty expectations brought on by the huge transfer fee he was signed for.
4. Injuries haven’t helped and he has been linked with a return to England in most transfer windows.
5. Bale has scored 100 goals in 219 appearances across all competitions for Madrid.

Courtois, who initially struggled to adapt on the pitch for his new club, has revealed the details of Bale’s difficulties in the Spanish capital.

Speaking to Belgian outlet HLN – as reported by Sky Sports – Courtois admitted that the Real Madrid players’ nickname for Bale is “the golfer”.

“I would say he has so much talent, but that it is such a shame that so often that talent is blocked from shining. I live like somebody who is born and bred in Madrid. I eat late, I go bed late… it is their way of life.

“The other night we had a dinner with the entire squad. But Bale and (Toni) Kroos did not turn up. They reckoned the dinner was too late at night.

“We had arranged to be in the restaurant at 9.30pm and we started out meal around 10.15pm and by midnight we were having coffee.

“We go to bed at around 1am. We have to train every morning at 11am. I think that is a perfect time. But Bale had told us ‘I am not coming to join you, guys. I go to bed at 11’.”

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Could Bale return to England?

Bale has scored 12 goals in 30 games across all competitions so far this season but continues to struggle with injuries.

The 29-year-old was only fit enough for the bench as Madrid drew 1-1 with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg earlier this month.

With Bale allegedly unwilling to adapt to life in Madrid, there is a possibility he will seek a return to England at the end of the season.

There are three years left on his current contract, so Premier League clubs would likely have to pay a premium to tempt Madrid into selling.

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