Gareth Bale’s double in the 2-0 win against Levante was vital for the Welshman, and his club. Real Madrid hadn’t won in three games, they had surrendered the lead in the Primera Liga to Barcelona and the vultures were circling. Bale, who hadn’t scored in 10 games, was held partly responsible by an aggrieved Bernabeu crowd.
He reacted by kicking the corner flag and covering his ears after his first goal, as if to say: “I can’t hear you booing.” For the second, there was a misunderstanding as Cristiano Ronaldo thought it was his goal, followed by a slightly contrived group hug.
It wasn’t a classic performance ahead of Sunday’s clasico, but the first-half goals lifted the mood at Madrid. That feeling could be temporary and speculation about Bale’s future is set to run.
Manchester United wanted Bale and that interest hasn’t dimmed, but he has told Madrid and those close to him that he wants to prove himself in Spain. He has enjoyed some fine moments since his record transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, but not enough to justify his €100 million (Dh389m) fee – or at least that is what Madrid fans think. Bale was among the players jeered, with critics saying that he doesn’t defend enough, but the same criticisms are not levelled at Bale’s strike partners, the out-of-form Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
There have been valid criticisms about his lack of progress speaking Spanish – he only fully integrates with the team’s English speakers such as Luca Modric or assistant coach Paul Clement – but the overall opprobrium has been harsh. Bale is a great player who deserves support – which he ostensibly received from his president, Florentino Perez, in an extraordinary press conference called after last week’s home defeat to Schalke. Perez gave his public support to coach Carlo Ancelotti, saw attacks on the player as attacks on his business model of signing the world’s finest, but in blaming the media Perez was also biting the hand he feeds with leaks.
Bale’s goals cleared the air, for now. Madrid – and their cheerleaders in the media – need unity ahead of Sunday’s clasico. On Monday, Bale was pictured roaring like a lion on the front page of Marca with the instruction/hope that he will show “another face” at Camp Nou on Sunday. It’s a huge game on so many levels.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE
EMIRATES'S REVISED A350 DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULE
Edinburgh: November 4 (unchanged)
Bahrain: November 15 (from September 15); second daily service from January 1
Kuwait: November 15 (from September 16)
Mumbai: January 1 (from October 27)
Ahmedabad: January 1 (from October 27)
Colombo: January 2 (from January 1)
Muscat: March 1 (from December 1)
Lyon: March 1 (from December 1)
Bologna: March 1 (from December 1)
Source: Emirates
Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024
Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).
Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).
Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).
Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside
Sukuk
An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Stan Lee
Director: David Gelb
Rating: 3/5
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
