Sky Sports pundit Terry Gibson feels Real Madrid must remain patient with Gareth Bale despite his ongoing injury concerns. The Wales international was expected to recover from a calf problem earlier this week when he picked up a thigh strain which could keep him out of action for at least six weeks.
As a result, the 28-year-old has featured in just 20 of Real Madrid’s last 60 games, while he has suffered 11 different injuries since his switch to Spain back in the summer of 2013. Speaking on Sky Sports, Gibson felt that the European champions could prolong with the services of Bale with elite clubs unlikely to take a gamble with constant niggles.
He said: “I don’t think they’ve got any choice but to be patient with him. With a player like Gareth, they’ve got a real asset when he’s fit, but he’s also a depreciating asset due to his current injuries, so Real wouldn’t get anywhere the money they should for him. He’d also be a risk for any club wanting to buy him; are his injuries a continual problem now or can they be put right?”
Bale, who is currently in his fifth season at the Bernabeu, joined from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013 for a then-world-record fee. He has since won three Champions League titles with Real Madrid in the space of four years, while also helping the club end their wait for the La Liga crown.
Arjen Robben suffered a similar injury concerns during his time with the European champions, and Gibson suggests that Bale should be placed on a special training regime once he makes his comeback from his latest injury. His absence has also cost Wales heavily as they failed to reach the World Cup finals, but Gibson has backed Bale to mark his return with Los Blancos without being anxious over his future.