Gareth Bale: "Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d'Or"

No love lost: Gareth Bale says Cristiano Ronaldo has helped him to settle in at Real Madrid

When Gareth Bale signed for Real Madrid becoming their most expensive signing after Cristiano Ronaldo, there were speculations of them being able to play together in the same team.

However, Bale has dismissed all rumours and has admitted that Ronaldo help him settle into life at the Bernabeu.

“I wasn’t nervous,” Bale said of their first meeting.

“It’s obviously great to meet a player of his calibre.

“Since I’ve been here he’s had nothing bad to say to me, he’s just given me encouragement every game, given me confidence. He has been sharing his first experiences when he first came here and they have really helped me along. He’s been absolutely brilliant.

“There is no rivalry at all. We get on very well. He’s helped me out a lot on and off the pitch. We’re enjoying playing together and I think that the goals and assists show that we’re playing well together.

“There’s still a lot more to come from us both and hopefully we can have a successful season by doing that.

“Since I’ve been here he’s been nothing short of unbelievable. He’s not scored less than two goals in any game since I’ve been here, I think. The amount of goals he’s scored is just mind blowing this season.”

Ronaldo who has scored five hat-tricks for Madrid this season is now the current favourite to win the coveted Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery.

Bale added: “For me, he is the best player in the world and I don’t think anyone is near him. He deserves that award.

“The goals and the performances he has put in, especially when you think of the pressure he is under, for Portugal the other day, it shows what a true, true world-class player he is.”