Play the game at Madrid & do what media wants: Gareth Bale’s advise to Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham has scored 13 goals for Real since joining them

Jude Bellingham was forewarned by Gareth Bale that he would need to “play the game” and become a “puppet” at Real Madrid.

Before his contentious departure from Real Madrid in 2022, Bale spent nine years there, winning three La Liga crowns and five Champions League trophies.

The great striker made an impression at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he and Karim Benzema created a formidable combination. However, he had a falling out with the Spanish press.

The Tottenham star struggled to get playing time and sustained numerous injuries in his final seasons at Madrid, but he continued to play for Wales during different international vacations.

That prompted a string of graphic journalistic attacks, with Marca calling him “the Welsh parasite” once he departed for overseas service last year.

When the 34-year-old announced his retirement in January, he was only looking to “play football and go home” during his time with Los Blancos. He performed an exclusive cameo on A League of Their Own.

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However, Bale cautioned Bellingham against taking his lead because he would still receive “a lot of stick” despite his incredible start, which saw him score 13 goals and three assists in 14 games.

The Welshman contends that the England international must put up with the press and that it would be preferable if he spoke Spanish.

Says Bale:

“The biggest advice [is] play the game at Madrid.

“If you don’t play the game and do what the media want, speak to them and basically be a puppet, you do get a lot of stick.

“You’ll see a lot of Galacticos, they’ll act like Galacticos, do what the press want, playing the game of being at Real Madrid.

“That’s probably where I was a bit of a downfall. I didn’t want to do it. I just wanted to play football and go home. It hindered me and that made them attack me a bit more.

“So my advice would be, honestly, just play the game of Real Madrid off the field. You have to speak after games, make sure you try and speak in Spanish, do those kinds of things.”

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