Bale lifts the lid on his then-world record move to Real Madrid… and reveals he was furious not to start 2018 Champions League final
GARETH BALE has lifted the lid on his then-world record move to Real Madrid - and revealed he was furious not to start the 2018 Champions League final.
The Welsh star scored twice, including a spectacular overhead kick, against Liverpool last June, but admits he was playing angry.
Bale also scored a long-range effort thanks to a Loris Karius clanger as Los Blancos lifted yet another Champions League crown, winning 3-1 in Kiev.
In an interview with , Bale revealed: “I was really frustrated not to start.
"I’d played pretty well since coming back from the last little niggle I’d had in December.
"I scored five goals in my last four league games of the season and felt like I deserved to be involved from the start.
“I was desperate to get on to that pitch. When I ran on I was still a bit angry, and that’s probably why I did what I did next.
“I’ve watched the goal back a couple of times. I didn’t feel like I had a point to prove – I wanted to do it for myself and the team.
"If you play in any final you want to be going home with the trophy, no matter what it takes. If it meant waiting to come on for the last 30 minutes, so be it.”
But Bale went on to say he hasn't spoken to then-Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane since his match-winning performance.
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The Wales winger added: “He didn’t talk to me about it – I still haven’t spoken to him since.
"Our relationship was good. I wouldn’t say we were best mates, it was just a normal professional relationship.”
Looking back at the acrobatic goal itself, Bale added: "It was instinctive and I caught the ball perfectly.
"I'd tried shots like that a few times in training but I'd never been successful."
Elsewhere, Bale also claimed he initially moved to Spain to further his game and after some teething problems has finally found his groove.
The former Tottenham man swapped White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu in 2013 in a former world-record £86million.
On the move, Bale said: "I'm very settled here now and so are my family. I'm happy, I'm enjoying playing football and winning trophies.
"The first couple of years in a new country are always a bit difficult - life here is a little different to home.
"But you get used to the culture and learn to appreciate and enjoy it. I wanted to come to Spain to progress my game further.
"In England, I was very raw, powerful and explosive, but when you come here you have to learn a slightly different style.
"I feel like I'm still improving as a player every day and that I've become a more complete footballer."