A Real Madrid modern icon has selected the best team from players he played with during his career, with several Los Blancos legends being selected
Although it would be an understatement to say he divided opinion during his time at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale has left Los Blancos fans with memories to last a lifetime.
The Welshman scored in two different Champions League finals, assisted in another, and scored an incredible solo goal against Barcelona in a Copa del Rey final. He ended up winning the Champions League five times, as well as three La Liga titles.
He was part of the legendary side that threepeated in the former competition, playing with some of the best players of all time. This is pretty well demonstrated by the players Bale has said are the best he has ever played with.
When asked recently for the best XI from those he played with in his career, the 36-year-old said: "Thibaut Courtois; Kyle Walker, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric; Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Eden Hazard.
This is some high praise, too, when you consider that Bale played with Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son at Spurs. The only player there he did not play with at Real Madrid is Kyle Walker, one of two of his former Spurs teammates included, alongside Modric, whom he played with at the Bernabeu too.
Some have questioned the selection of Hazard, given his unfortunate time in the Spanish capital. However, there is no doubt that the Welshman was also considering the players' overall career levels, rather than just the time he spent with them.
To think, there are so many other incredible Real Madrid players that didn't even get mentioned. The likes of Angel di Maria, Isco, Pepe, and Iker Casillas, as well as Dani Carvajal, who missed out in preference for Walker.
As mentioned before, there was certainly a lot of division in opinion when it came to Bale, but you cannot deny his impact at the club. The quality of the goals as well as their importance. The bicycle kick vs Liverpool would have been a crucial goal even if it bounced off his shin from one yard out. For it to be such a spectacular goal was the icing on the cake.
It makes you wonder what might have been if he had managed to stay fit. In the 15/16 season, Los Blancos missed out on the La Liga title by one point. In that season, Bale scored 19 goals in 23 games (21 starts), as well as providing 10 assists. Now, just imagine if he had played 33 (or more) games instead. It surely would have resulted in a league title.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!