Gareth Bale finally earns recognition from Real Madrid despite falling out with fans

Gareth Bale has finally earned some well-deserved appreciation from Real Madrid for his efforts for the club over the past nine years, which was marred by frequent falling outs with their fans.

The Welsh international joined Los Blancos from Tottenham in 2013 in a £86million deal. He won 16 major trophies with the Spanish giants, including three La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues, scoring in two of those finals.

Despite that impressive haul, Bale has had an uneasy relationship with supporters and the Spanish media, leading to frequent run-ins. Those clashes had come amid what has been an injury-ravaged second-half of his spell in Madrid, with Bale struggling to stay fit for his club.

He will leave the Bernabeu when his contract expires at the end of June, but unlike Marcelo, he will not be given an official send-off. But he has now surprisingly been handed 'legend' status by Los Blancos and been added to their 'football legends' section on their website.

His profile in that section is titled "The unforgettable bicycle kick to clinch La Decimotercera" highlighting his bicycle kick in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool. The piece goes on to brand him a "central figure" in Madrid's success over the past decade.

"Gareth Bale has been a central figure in one of our club's most successful eras, winning five European Cups, three of them consecutively, between 2014 and 2022. The Welshman arrived at Real Madrid at 24 years of age and was unveiled on 2 September 2013 before making his debut on 14 September at El Madrigal against Villarreal. He also marked his first Madridista appearance with a goal," the piece says.

"In his impressive spell in our colours, Bale compiled an remarkable collection of