Gareth Bale given the bird by Real Madrid fans on his return to action as Bernabeu exit edges closer

Gareth Bale’s nightmare spell at Real Madrid took on another low-point on Saturday evening.

The Welshman was loudly booed and whistled by the Vikingos upon his entrance as a second-half substitute during a La Liga clash against Getafe.

Bale's nine-year tenure at the Bernabeu is set to end at the end of the season and he has played in just seven matches in all competitions in the current campaign – and he was labelled a ‘parasite’ in an unprecedented attack by a leading Spanish Sports newspaper last month.

A charge he rebuffed with a stinging broadside at the outlet on Twitter.

Bale came on as a substitute for Karim Benzema and Real Madrid won the encounter 2-0 to take them one step closer to another La Liga title.

Carlo Ancelotti, defended his player as he effectively brought him out of the cold with a 15-minute cameo.

The Italian said: “The whistle on Bale is understandable but he is doing well now. He is a serious professional.

"He had problems and lately he hasn't played, but he's a player who has entered the history of the club with his titles and goals.

"He is fine, he's in good physical condition. He has shown that with his national team and he wants to show it here.

"He's confident, he wants to finish well with this club… It didn't bother me that he was whistled at."

Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett implied last week that the 32-year-old would be leaving Los Blancos when his contract expires.

Bale enjoyed a lucrative loan spell in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur during the 2020/21 season though talks of a third spell have been widely speculated without any formal comment being made by the clubs.