Bale, Ronaldo not cut from same cloth
The Welshman and Portuguese are leading lights of the super rich Real Madrid, but they couldn’t be more different from each other
PARIS: One is an “Eau de toilette” (cologne) kind of character, the other more “wake up and smell the coffee”.
Cristiano Ronaldo is immaculately groomed, makes a point of posing for the cameras when he scores, is often captured scowling at his colleagues and recently launched his own men’s fragrance called “Legacy”.
Gareth Bale is constantly encouraging his teammates and is described by his manager as “the most down-to-earth boy you could meet.”
The world’s two most expensive footballers, who play alongside each other at Real Madrid, will go head-to-head when Bale’s Wales meet Ronaldo’s Portugal in their Euro 2016 semi-final in Lyon on Wednesday. In playing terms, both are the leaders
of their teams but they take very different approaches to their role.
While Bale is widely acclaimed as an inspiration for his national team, Ronaldo’s influence on Portugal is the subject of debate.
Ronaldo’s teammates routinely leap to his defence and emphasise that he is always working for them.
“Cristiano has worked for the squad and it’s the only the squad which matters here,” said midfielder Andre Gomes.
Coach Fernando Santos added that Ronaldo has sacrificed himself for the team. “He is an example, as captain, of the spirit of this team, of this team’s determination, he wants to do well and he wants to win, in this aspect he has been fantastic. He’s an example of what the team is,” he said.
Even so, the 31-year-old threetimes World Player-of-the-Year has often struggled with an image problem, especially when he said two years ago that Portugal needed “two or three Cristiano Ronaldos.”
He insists on taking every free kick within — and often beyond — shooting distance, prompting suggestions that he is selfish, and is regularly captured on television cameras remonstrating angrily with his team mates.
RELAXED Bale, in comparison looks relaxed, and is not afraid to stir up some controversy such as when he said that no England players would get into the Wales side, adding that Wales were more passionate than their larger neighbours.
Television images tend to show him encouraging his team mates rather than gesticulating angrily and complaining.
“They are obviously different types of people and different characters,” said Wales manager Chris Coleman. “Whatever Bale brings to the table for us, that’s him. He’s not manufactured. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not.
“Gareth is clearly a special player. For us he is special, not just because of his talent but what he represents when he plays for Wales. “He appreciates what he has around him and they appreciate they have a super talent. It’s a good blend.”
Coleman, however, see a similarity in the two Real stars. “If I ever speak to Giggsy or Alex all they speak about is his (Ronaldo’s) desire to get better,” said Coleman. “You see that on the pitch, how motivated he is for himself to score and win.”
“Talent is a huge distraction, talent is not enough but he has the attitude with it, same as Bale he has the mentality to go with
it,” he added.