Bale must learn to live under the spotlight, says former Madrid winger

Gareth Bale

Former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman insists Gareth Bale should integrate with the team in order to perform well.

In an interview with BBC he said: “Everybody will want a slice of him.”

“Everybody will want to speak to him about his car, shoes, whether he’s had a haircut, what house he lives in, who’s his gardener.

“Real Madrid is a different animal to Tottenham. He knows the spotlight will be on him.” he added.

“He knows the transfer fee will be huge and the pressure will be on him. It will not come as a surprise to him.”

“Most importantly, if he goes out onto the football field and performs the way he has done, he will win everybody over in a heartbeat.”

“The sports papers have to fill 10, 12, 13 pages on Real Madrid every day. It is not just about the game.” said the former Real Madrid player.

“If you come into the training ground with a new car it will be in the paper, if you’ve got a new coat, it will be in the paper, if you’ve got a new haircut it will be in the paper.

“He knows he’s going to have to learn the language and adapt to Spanish life.”

“The good thing for Gareth is the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa all speak English, as do coach Carlo Ancelotti and his number two Paul Clement, so he will go in and have familiar voices.

“But he will still have to go out and show willing and want to learn the language, and adapt to the Spanish lifestyle.”

Gareth Bale’s transfer has yet to be agreed, but it could happen in the coming days and is set to obliterate the £80 million world record fee Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.