Gareth Bale’s season at Real Madrid went from bad to worse after the player was severely abused on social media for his performance against Juventus, on Wednesday.
Los Blancos welcomed the Serie A champions to the Bernabeu for the second leg of their semi-final match-up. Having lost the first game 2-1, the Liga BBVA giants needed only a 1-0 win to progress to the final in Berlin, but instead drew 1-1 before crashing out.
The game saw the return of Les Merengues’ feared BBC attacking trio, but of the three, one failed to impress. That was Gareth Bale.
The former Tottenham man, who has come under heavy criticism and even booing from the Real Madrid faithful, endured a horrible game, as he only managed one shot on target in six attempts at goal.
And as the final whistle sealed the Old Lady’s progression, and Real Madrid’s elimination, Twitter turned on Bale as tweets after tweets slating the 25-year-old flooded the Internet.
Gareth Bale's heatmap today pic.twitter.com/8vcijQsmT7
— Fayez (@iFayex) May 13, 2015
Bale's decision making is actually atrocious atm
— Ronaldo (@notRonaIdo) May 13, 2015
Gareth Bale will be lucky to get out of that stadium alive.
— Iconíc United (@IconicUnited) May 13, 2015
Live images of Gareth Bale's car outside the ground pic.twitter.com/KAXUClMpDG
— Luke (@KopiteLuke1892) May 13, 2015
Security is being moved behind the Juventus goal to protect the fans from Gareth Bale. #UCL
— Church of Soccer (@churchofsoccer) May 13, 2015
Gareth Bale: Had as many shots (7) as the entire Juventus team but hit the target just once #RealJuve
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 13, 2015
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. And if you're Gareth Bale, you miss 100% of the ones you do take, too.
— Brooks Peck (@BrooksDT) May 13, 2015
Bale's choice of vehicle for leaving the Bernabéu tonight. #RealJuve pic.twitter.com/XuBTRI0xF7
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 13, 2015
Bale trying his best to get his transfer to United by this performance tonight.
— James Stretford (@Jamesstretford) May 13, 2015
However, this could be the last Real Madrid fans see of the Southampton graduate. According to John Richardson of the Daily Express, Bale is very close to sealing a Manchester United transfer, with the move being described as “almost done”.
The journalist, who was speaking as a guest on MUTV, insisted that he knows someone “very close to Gareth Bale” as a backing for his claims. Watch in the VINE below.
The player himself, though, whilst speaking to BBC Sport, was positive about his future at the Bernabeu, saying he will improve next term.
"There have been some ups and downs but I think I've played well," the Welshman confessed.
"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger and I'll learn from this season and take it on."
Bale, whilst speaking to Sky Sports, also discussed the prospect of challenging for the Champions League next season, saying:
"I've maybe not scored as many important chances as I'd like but my general play has been good. My finishing is not as good and that's something to work on for next year.
"We wanted to be in the Champions League final, we gave ourselves a chance of winning but it's not to be and we go again next year."
