BALE-MANIA

Fans frenzy reminds Giggs of Becks

® from ALEX BYWATER in NANNING

GARETH BALE is being treated like a god in China – just like David Beckham.

The Real Madrid superstar was mobbed by fans when he arrived in the southern China city of Nanning this week.

Fans from across the country are expected to flock to the 60,000-capacity Guangxi Sports Center to see him in action today.

Wales boss Ryan Giggs says the frenzied reception reminds him of the ones that greeted his former Manchester United team-mate Beckham wherever he went.

He said it helps take the pressure off Bale’s team-mates. “It was the same when Becks came into the United team,” said Giggs.

“He took the limelight away from me. Gareth would have been out here in the Far East plenty of times with Real. At big teams like United, Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the players are used to the adulation they get, especially in this part of the world because footballers are treated like gods.” Bale flew to China after scoring for Real in their 6-3 win over Girona on Sunday and was training within two hours of landing. He is likely to come off the bench against China today, in Giggs’ first game in charge. Wales would forfeit £100,000 of their £1m fee for competing in the China Cup if their star man does not make an appearance. Asked if Wales were under commercial pressure to play Bale, Giggs said: “Yes, of course. I’m not stupid because it’s an important part of the season and I won’t be taking any stupid risks. “But we have thought carefully about each player that has arrived at different times and the best things to do for them. “It’s about all the players and getting feedback from them. “We are able to use six substitutes and I will probably use all of them because a lot of players have played a lot of football and there are other players who need minutes as well. We are also looking ahead to the