Home, broken hearted
Bale to miss out?
“He wants to stay in England and at the top. If he sees he is a valuable asset for United he will stay. But he knows he can be a valuable asset for other top clubs also.” — Mino Raiola, the agent of Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured), discussing his star client’s future PLAYING in the Champions League final in his hometown of Cardiff was a dream scenario for Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, but there is clamour in Spain for the club’s record signing to sit out Sunday morning’s showpiece to make way for in-form Isco.
Bale has had a difficult fourth season with Real littered with injuries that have limited him to 24 starts, and when he has been fit he has struggled to replicate his form of last year and his spectacular Euro 2016 campaign with Wales.
Yet even though his time at Real has been interrupted by 17 injuries, Bale has been decisive in finals.
He scored a breath-taking solo goal to win the 2014 King’s Cup against Barcelona and headed his side in front for the first time in their 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.
In the 2016 final against Atletico, he set up Sergio Ramos’s opening goal and scored in Real’s penalty shootout win.
Yet the overwhelming feeling in Spain is that Bale could hinder Real’s chances of beating Juventus and the Spanish media are crying out for midfielder Isco to start in his place.
Spain international Isco has come into his own in the final stretch of the season while Bale has been out with a calf injury.
Voted Real’s player of the season by the club’s supporters, Isco has scored five goals and provided three assists in his past eight games, prompting Spanish daily Marca to remark that leaving him out of the Champions League final would be “the biggest injustice in memory”.
While the Spaniard lacks the physical prowess of Bale, many believe he is better suited to the team’s play due to his vision and dribbling ability, while German international Toni Kroos has admitted he prefers the four-man midfield employed when Isco plays.
That shape has proven more effective than the 4-3-3 in which Bale usually operates, giving Real greater control in midfield and unleashing Cristiano Ronaldo in the centre forward role.
Bale’s best hope of starting is that coach Zinedine Zidane continues to show loyalty to the Wales international.
The Frenchman has defended Bale, and said earlier in the season he would pick Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema if they were available.
Bale returned to training from injury eight days before the final, but not having played since April 23, Zidane’s faith is facing its sternest test. REUTERS