GARETH BALE HAS the mental strength to deal with being booed by disgruntled Real Madrid fans, according to Wales boss Chris Coleman.
The winger joined the Blancos from Tottenham last year for a world-record fee of €100 million and enjoyed a fine finish to his first season in Spain, scoring a sensational winner in the capital club’s Copa del Rey triumph over Barcelona before then bagging the vital second goal in last May’s 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.
However, despite netting 14 times in 31 appearances so far this term, Bale has been targeted by the Santiago Bernabeu faithful in recent weeks for his allegedly selfish play and inconsistent form.
Coleman, though, is in no doubt that the 25-year-old can deal with being whistled and jeered by his own club’s supporters.
“He can handle that no problem at all,” the Wales coach is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. “I’m not worried about him.
“If you go to Madrid for that amount of money and you know that the spotlight is on you then you can either handle it or you can’t handle it.
“In his first season they won the Champions League, which was their holy grail – and he was a huge part of that campaign.
“It’s his turn now to get some criticism. It won’t bother him. He’ll be fine. He’ll get through it.”
Great move for Seanie . The league will be a poorer place without player’s like him. Wish him all the best
It’s a good thing Cork have an 18 point lead. Wish him all the best but I’m gutted that he’s leaving, the league is a better place with players like him. He was class last night.
City still have him for up to 7 league games and a couple of European ties. Watch how quickly he gets called up to Ireland squad now that he doesn’t play here. Sad but true.
And when he arrives at Preston, he’ll suddenly be good enough for the Ireland squad!
Preston have some amount of Irish players now. Good luck to him! Thought Cork would try keep him for their European games
@Joey McCarthy: although just checked he will be around for early rounds of European games.
He’ll get on the magic plane which takes off in Ireland and when it lands in England he’ll have improved so much he’ll get called in to the national squad
@Michael Hanrahan: no guarantee he’ll get in Preston side… and if he does he will probably deserve a call up as the championship is a much higher level than league of ireland, despite what people seem to think on here…. horgan best player in loi last year, but has struggled to make starting 11 for Preston recently after a bright start
@blueman79: yet he’s been in every squad since he joined them regardless of his form eith PNE
Great for him snd great for city. Will win the league and make a few quid along the way. Happy days
Would of been nice for him to stay until the end of the season. Cork took him off the bench at Dundalk and are on their way to a great season. Surely a few months wouldn’t have stopped him moving. Interesting to see who Cork replace him with now.
@Dan: I think Brian Kerr made a good point last night when he said Maguire needed to be at Preston for the pre season. It’s his best chance of staking a claim in the team. I know Horgan went in January but he didn’t get into the team straight away. Tough on Cork though.
Everyone’s second team in England has now become Preston. Will be keeping an eye on their results, best of luck to all the Irish lads!!
Can expect to see hin in the Ireland squad in August so
Best of cork luck seanie,go all the way boy
Great and we’ll deserved movie for him. Definitely should be involved with Ireland more than he has been and now that he’s moved to the championship O’Neill will probably cap him even though he deserved his first cap a while ago.
@Dave Murray: bit early for a movie although Vardy had got one
@Brian Les: Doh! Major face palm from me.
@Dave Murray: v good
lets hope they got a decent fee with a future percentage sell on clause not like in previous cases to clubs across the water.
Great if he was loaned back to City till end of season. Prob won,t happen though, fully deserves his chance, can make an impact in championship as well.No shortage of strickers wanting to come to City now i,d say. Best support base, biggest club in Ireland now and unique atmosphere at Turners Cross.
Delighted for him he deserves it lots of Irish players at Preston now
Let’s hope Richie towell gets a fair crack at Brighton .. great move for maguire- hope it works out
@Niall: Chris Hughton has said that he’s going to send Richie out on loan to the championship
Called up to the Ireland squad now guaranteed
If mcgeady sign permanently they can make a real push for automatic promotion
@Ciarán Linnane: i cant see aidan doing aswell this season im afraid
@John Delaney: hope he does
Feck. Would have preferred he stayed till seasons end. We haven’t won the league in 12 years like
Let’s hope Kevin o c,and Ryan d,dont go