Bale booed by Madrid fans calling for Vinicius to replace him

One would think that scoring a brace in a Champions League final would endear even the most controversial player to the fan base of any given club in the world.

However this is not the case when you play for Real Madrid, as Welshman Gareth Bale is currently finding out.

A mere five months since he scored twice in Kiev; the first being a miraculous overhead kick, which saw 'Los Blancos' achieve a record third consecutive European crown, the fans are calling for Bale to be dropped. 

There is now unbelievable pressure for interim coach Santi Solari to replace the Weslh winger with 18 year old wonder kid Vinicius Jr, against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.

 

May 27, 2018

Of course Bale is no stranger to criticism in the Spanish capital. In 2014, after he scored a wonderful goal against arch-rivals Barcelona to win Madrid the Copa del Rey, Bale was hammered only weeks later by the fans. 

And again, when Bale scored the decisive goal in Lisbon against Atlético to clinch 'La Decima', the ilussive tenth European crown, this still was not enough to convince the Madrid fans. 

Yet one would think that surely now, in the absence of departed talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, the Madrid fans would jump to back Bale, the man who has delivered so much for the club already in his so-far five year spell. 

However that would be wrong.

Branded by many in Madrid as the expensive flop that never lived up to his price tag; it will be hard to find someone who manages to surpass Bales 4 Champions Leagues and one La Liga title in a lifelong career, let alone in the space of just five years.

In contrast, Brazilian Vinicius is the new darling of the Santiago Bernabéu.  It seems as though the exciting youngster is already destined for the pedestal that Ronaldo left behind in the summer. 

'Los Blancos' recently suffered a barren run in front of goal, more than 8 hours without breaching an opponent's rearguard. Therefore Welshman Bale's own personal 7 game goalless run is being touted as one of the large contributing factors to the team's recent demise.

The Welshman has been replaced in each of the last two games, notably at times where the team were actively still needing a goal in order to win. 

Madrid fans are renowned for turning on their stars; Bale was whistled throughout the entirety of the home match against Valladolid, while striker Karim Benzema has also fallen out of favor with the 'Madridistas'. 

It was not for the want of trying from either man; both Bale and Benzema were protagonists in a strong attacking display for the hosts against Valladolid, but that appears to count for nothing if their names were not present on the score sheet.

With the flickers of brilliance from Bale not enough to keep faith with the Madrid fans, it seems as though the medals the Welshman earns this campaign will also be discounted, as they appear unmoved by any achievements that he records. 

And so, with another transfer window fast approaching; it remains to be seen if Bale will opt to stay at the Santiago Bernabéu, or if like former teammate Ronaldo, he decides to seek pastures new in order to once again feel loved and appreciated. 

Everything appeared to be in place for Bale to make the Bernabéu his own after the summer window; Ronaldo's departure leaving the spotlight clear for the Welshman to flourish as Madrid's main man. 

However if things do not improve, and fast; Bale will only have his winners medals to remind him of his time in the Spanish capital...