Bale enters into Madrid's 'Injury Hall of Fame'

Bale enters into Madrid's 'Injury Hall of Fame'

Jack Ottman 6 years ago 1.7k |

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Bale has amassed 19 injuries in five seasons at the Bernabeu. EFE/Archivo

The Welshman's umpteenth injury in his Real Madrid career places him alongside other 'cursed' former Madrid players such as Prosinecki, Woodgate, Stielike, Kaka, Robben... who also saw their career's at the Santiago Bernabeu blighted by continuous injury problems.

"Gareth Bale suffered a strain to the middle third of the adductor longus muscle in his left leg," said Real Madrid's latest injury report and some people are starting to lose their patience with the Welshman...

In five seasons at the Spanish capital, Bale has now suffered his nineteenth injury, missing out on 73 official matches. The latest injury came before he even recovered from his previous one.

Signed for €101 million and billed as blockbuster signing, his injuries are threatening to make a mockery of his time at Madrid, despite the numerous titles won since he joined from Tottenham.

Bale's fragility has unfortunately granted him entry to the club's 'Injury Hall of Fame', alongside a number of former injury-prone Real Madrid players, a list put together by Spanish publication 'AS':

Raphael Varane (2011-): hailed as one of the best young centre backs in world football, with Real Madrid he has played 200 matches since signing in 2011, an average of 28 per season.

Nuri Sahin (2011-2013): was on the treatment table during almost his entire short career at Real Madrid and he managed just 10 matches in two seasons.

Kaka (2009-2013): the case which most resembles that of Gareth Bale in terms of transfer fee, conditions, expectations and performance. The Brazilian star was at Real Madrid for four seasons, but played only 85 matches.

Arjen Robben (2007-2009): he arrived in Madrid in 2007 already injured, and although he didn't have any long-term injury problems, he never managed to player more than five consecutive games without picking up a knock or an injury,

Jonathan Woodgate (2004-06): he played just 14 matches in two seasons

Robert Prosinecki (1991-1994): picked up a nickname for his injury-laden career at Real Madrid, he was the highest paid player in the squad at the time and only made three appearances in his first season.

Uli Stielike (1977-1985): Alfredo Relano claims in 'AS' that Stielike's career at Madrid was severely hampered because he had one leg longer than the other, and this imbalance caused him to pick up a huge number of muscular injuries.