Real Madrid: “Marca” calls Bale “blood-sucking parasite” – professional counters with style

“You should be ashamed”

“It’s disgusting, they should be ashamed,” is how Gareth Bale (32) assessed the performance of the “Marca” editorial team, which published a condescending report on the Real Madrid professional before the World Cup playoff game between Wales and Austria.

The best response to the article, which portrays Bale in words and pictures as a blood-sucking parasite, was the Welshman with a brace in the 2-1 win over Austria. The day after the win, which brought Wales one step closer to their first World Cup appearance since 1958, the winger commented on the brazen article in Madrid-based sports newspaper via Twitter: “At a time when people are taking their own lives because of the callousness and relentlessness of the media, I want to know who is holding these journalists and the media that allow them to write such articles to account?”

“Marca” showed Bale in a graphic as a mosquito sucking the blood of Real Madrid – a metaphor for the salary of the first 100 million transfer in football history, which has earned around 30 million euros gross per season in Madrid since 2016.

In the past three years, his performance no longer matched the salary that Real President Florentino Pérez probably gave him as a thank you for many Champions League titles. Marca wrote: “He settled in Spain, at Real Madrid, where at first he was diligent and showed love for the fans, but then his way of sucking blood made him give nothing back. Well, more than blood, he sucked and sucked the club’s euros.”

Bale, Dembélé & Co.: All transfers over 100 million euros in chronological order

Gareth Bale | Tottenham -> Real Madrid | Transfer fee: €101 million

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Transfer in summer 2013

Paul Pogba | Juventus -> Man United | Transfer fee: €105 million

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Transfer in summer 2016

Neymar | FC Barcelona -> PSG | Transfer fee: €222 million

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Transfer in summer 2017

Ousmane Dembele | BVB -> FC Barcelona | Transfer fee: €140 million

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Transfer in summer 2017

Philippe Coutinho | Liverpool -> FC Barcelona | Transfer fee: €135 million

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Transfer in winter 2018

Kylian Mbappe | AS Monaco -> PSG | Transfer fee: €145 million

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Loan summer 2017, permanent transfer summer 2018

Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid -> Juventus | Transfer fee: €117 million

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Transfer in summer 2018

Eden Hazard | Chelsea -> Real Madrid | Transfer fee: €115 million

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Transfer in summer 2019

Antoine Griezmann | Atlético -> FC Barcelona | Transfer fee: €120 million

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Transfer in summer 2019

João Felix | Benfica -> Atlético | Transfer fee: €127.2 million

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Transfer in summer 2019

Jack Grealish | Aston Villa -> Man City | Transfer fee: €117.5 million

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Transfer in summer 2021

Romelu Lukaku | Inter -> Chelsea | Transfer fee: €113 million

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Transfer in summer 2021

Bale wrote: “Luckily I’ve developed a thick skin during my time in the spotlight, which doesn’t mean articles like this don’t leave a mark on those who are on the other end of these wicked stories. I’ve seen the impact media can have on mental and psychological health.”

Real Madrid’s Bale: “We all know who the real parasite is!”

The Welshman has won 14 titles with Real Madrid since 2013 – “Marca” dubs him a parasite. For Austria – it seems – the insulting article came at the wrong time. “Unlike many of its kind, such as the flea, louse, or bed bug, the bale parasite does not cause its host to itch or become ill, but after sucking it dry, it laughs and makes fun of them. He shows a joking contempt for those who keep him alive,” wrote Marca about Bale, who can shoot Wales against the Czech Republic for the World Cup on Tuesday.

“The media expect superhuman performances from professional athletes and are the first to celebrate when they deliver. But instead of feeling sorry when they show a hint of human error, they tear them to pieces and encourage the anger and disappointment in the fans.” “The daily pressure on athletes is tremendous and it is clear how negative media coverage can drive an already stressed athlete or other public figure insane.”

Kroos, Bale & Co.: Legionnaires with the most appearances for Real Madrid

15. Gareth Bale – Wales – 256 games

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As of March 25, 2022

14. Hugo Sánchez – Mexico – 259 games

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13. Gonzalo Higuaín – Argentina – 264 games

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12. Uli Stielike – Germany – 281 games

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11. José Santamaría – Uruguay – 285 games

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10. Casemiro – Brazil – 324 games

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9. Pepe – Portugal – 334 games

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8. Toni Kroos – Germany – 352 games

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7. Alfredo di Stefano – Argentina – 344 games

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6. Raphaël Varane – France – 360 games

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5. Luka Modric – Croatia – 425 games

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4. Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal – 438 games

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3. Roberto Carlos – Brazil – 527 games

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2. Marcelo – Brazil – 542 games

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1. Karim Benzema – France – 593 games

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Bale will leave Madrid free of charge in the summer and will probably also be out of the focus of “Marca”. “I want to use my platform to effect change in the way we publicly engage with people and how we criticize them – mainly for not living up to the often unrealistic expectations that are projected onto them. We all know who the real parasite is!”

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