Luis Figo defends Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid legacy

Luis Figo has insisted that Real Madrid fans ‘cannot forget’ what Gareth Bale achieved during his nine years at the club, reminding supporters of the success the Welshman achieved.

Bale completed what was then a world record transfer to Real in 2013 and finished his near decade-long chapter in Madrid with four Champions League titles among numerous other trophies.

Bale even played a key role in a number of those triumphs, scoring what proved to be the winner in the 2014 final, having a major impact in the 2016 final and netting a spectacular game-winning overhead kick in the 2018 final.

Before any of that, he also got the late winner in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, which remains the last time Los Blancos lifted that particular trophy.

Yet Bale’s relationship with Real fans the Spanish media soured, particularly since 2018. Injuries were a limiting factor throughout his time at the club, but he managed only 27 total appearances in his final two seasons either side of a 2020/21 loan spell back at Tottenham.

Figo, himself also formerly the subject of a world record transfer, is adamant that Real fans should look back on the positives of Bale’s Bernabeu spell.

“He was in Madrid for a long time. Part of that time he did very well. Performance wise, he achieved very important personal moments for the team,” Figo told Gambling Insider.

“But he had a lot of injuries too. The last part of his presence in the club was not so positive, because he didn’t play and because of injuries. I think in the last part, it could be better. But you cannot forget what he did for the club.”