Watch: Bale hilariously trolls Real Madrid by speaking perfect Spanish

Gareth Bale was incessantly hounded by the Spanish press during his Real Madrid days and one of the sticks used to beat him was his supposed failure to learn Spanish. He’s taken all of a few minutes at new club LAFC to prove that idea is nonsense.

Bale moved to Madrid from Tottenham for €100million back in 2013 and subsequently won three La Liga titles five European Cups, scoring in two Champions League finals and grabbing a number of other important goals during his time at the Bernabeu.

But as his Madrid career wound down, there was a perception that he was not prepared to give his all in the white shirt and the Madrid-based media targetted him for a great deal of criticism.

One writer even referred to Bale as a ‘parasite’ during his final campaign at the club, but much more frequent were suggestions that he did not get on with team-mates, perferred playing golf to training and had never made the effort to learn Spanish.

Bale left Real Madrid at the end of the 2021-22 campaign and in July it was announced that he would join MLS club LAFC on a 12-month deal.

On Friday night, he was at the club’s Banc of California Stadium to watch them beat LA Galaxy 3-2 in the delightfully named El Trafico derby.

Before the game he recorded a message that was sent out on LAFC’s social media channels. And, to rub salt into any Madrid wounds that may or may not still be open, he did it in perfect Spanish.

“Hello, LAFC,” he said, “3252 [LAFC’s biggest supporters group].”

“I am here in Los Angeles. We’ll see each other at the match tonight.”

Some match it was, too. LAFC’s young Ecuadorian star Jose Cifuentes gave the home side a half-time lead, but the Galaxy pulled it back after 55 minutes.

Goals from Cifuentes and Cristian Arango then gave LAFC a 3-1 lead before Rayan Raveloson pulled one back to set up a grandstand finish.

LAFC held on, however, cueing wild celebrations, in which new signing Bale was front and centre.

We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on his progress in LA. It’ll be fun if Friday’s action is anything to go by.

Nos vemos esta noche, @GarethBale11. 👊#LAFC pic.twitter.com/hbp1Mw1MWI

— LÁFC (@SomosLAFC) July 8, 2022

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