Real Madrid

Robbie Savage: 'Gareth Bale will benefit from last season'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 04 August 2015

Robbie Savage tells Sports Mole that last season will have seen Real Madrid's Wales international Gareth Bale grow a "thicker skin".

Robbie Savage has backed Gareth Bale to bounce back from his difficult season in a Real Madrid shirt.

Following his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur for a world-record £85m in 2013, the Welsh winger went on to play a key role as Los Blancos won the Copa del Rey and a 10th Champions League title.

However, he was perceived to have failed to live up to those heights during 2014-15 by sections of the media and some Madrid fans, who jeered the 26-year-old during some his outings at the Bernabeu.

However, Savage has told Sports Mole that his compatriot will have benefited from the experiences of the last 12 months.

"I'd love to see the same Gareth Bale playing for Madrid as the one that represents Wales. He is the main man, oozes authority and demands the ball." said Savage, who was speaking at a BT Sport media event to launch the broadcaster's football coverage for the coming season.

"With Cristiano Ronaldo in the team - he does that at Madrid, but I want to see Bale doing that as well. We all want to see him being the Bale that enjoyed his first season in Spain or the one that tore Maicon apart in the Champions League for Spurs.

"Last season I didn't seem him get the ball, knock it past a full-back and run - he does that for Wales. What he went through last year will give him thicker skin and it could be a massive year for him."

Meanwhile, a report has claimed that Manchester United recently had two separate £100m bids rejected for Bale.