Iwan Roberts urges Gareth Bale to return to England

Former Wales international Iwan Roberts has urged Real Madrid star Gareth Bale to return to the Premier League.

The winger has endured a difficult second season in La Liga and came under fire following his side's 2-1 defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona at the weekend.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Bale was criticised in the Spanish media in the wake of the El Clasico reverse and his car was later set upon by angry supporters.

Roberts, who earned 15 caps for Wales during his playing career, believes that Bale should return to England where supporters "appreciate" him.

"If he is still getting the stick he has been getting over the last four or five months now, then he should come to somewhere that people appreciate him; to somewhere where the fans realise how hard you work for the side and the quality you bring to a side," The Mirror quotes the ex-Norwich City man as saying.

"I think if he keeps getting treated the way he is by some of the supporters and the media over there, he will want to prove a lot of people wrong. He has got a strong mentality and only time will tell but he doesn't deserve the treatment he has been getting.

"I do think he gets harshly treated in the Bernabeu - maybe it will take for Gareth to move away [for it to stop]."

Bale has been linked with Manchester United and Manchester City of late.