Bale in Real war of words about flag

GARETH Bale has risked the wrath of Real Madrid by celebrating Wales’ Euro 2020 qualification success with a Welsh flag poking fun at his Spanish club.

Bale – who has played four times for Wales since his last appearance for Real on October 5 – has been criticised in Spain in recent months for putting country before club.

Former Real striker Predrag Mijatovic spoke out against keen golfer Bale in a newspaper article, saying: “The first thing he thinks about is Wales, then golf and after that, Real Madrid.”

Wales fans have turned the mantra ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid’ into a chant, with Bale himself admitting he found the song amusing.

And Bale, pictured below, provided his critics with more ammunition after Wales’ 2-0 home victory over Hungary on Tuesday secured their place at Euro 2020 next summer.

As Bale celebrated qualification with team-mates, he was directly behind a Welsh flag which said ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order’.

The Spanish media reacted angrily yesterday to the pictures of Bale posing with the flag.

Sports daily AS’ headline read “Bale is ‘mocking’ Madrid with the ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid’ flag”, while Sport.es queried whether Bale should be punished by his club.

“Bale had no qualms about being in the centre of the image, practically carrying the flag where you could read this message that clearly implies a contempt against the Madrid club,” Sport.es said. “Now we need to know if Real Madrid will take any action against its player, considering it as a clear contempt and attack on the club’s image.”