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The Audi Cup final between European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich was headed for a 0-0 stalemate till Thomas Muller stole the win for the Bavarians right at the death. While the pre-season tournament came to an end with Guardiola’s men as the winners, Real Madrid are still looking a side very much in the infancy, experimenting with formations and positions. One man who is at the centre of their attacking set-up this season is the Welshman Gareth Bale.
The former Tottenham player did not start the game against the German champion but was named on the bench. A name that was on the team-sheet at the start of the game, however, was former Bayern midfielder – Toni Kroos. As is conventional during pre-season, managers make bunch of substitutions during the game and one of the changes that manager Rafael Benitez made was to take the German player off in the 71st minute.
As he walked off the pitch and onto the bench, his team-mate Bale extended his arm to Kroos looking for a “hi-five” or in this case a “low-five” but Kroos in the cruelest social situation for the Welsh winger walked on completely oblivious to the hand that reached out to acknowledge his performance against his former employers. The German World Cup winner just sipped on his bottle and walked past Bale, leaving him hanging.
That was only the beginning as the winger took to social media with his embarrassing moment caught on camera.
But all of this was just a little banter that was followed by a happy ending as Bale once again shared through his Twitter page. Toni Kroos was a sport about the whole incident as well.
Bale for No. 10 role
The Welshman has expressed his desire to play in a more central role for Real Madrid. Towards the end of his Tottenham spell, it is where he played for the Spurs and impressed in the position as well. Nonetheless, his competition for the position at Real is formidable with the likes of James Rodriguez and even Cristiano Ronaldo capable of playing “in the hole”.
As Benitez has hinted towards Ronaldo possibly occupying a “number 9” position this season for Los Galacticos, if the two can form a good rapport, it may be the start of something special for the Madridistas to watch.
Bale seems to have extended his metaphorical palm towards the number 10 role, will it pull a Toni Kroos on him?
