Blighted by fitness problems at the start of his Real Madrid career,

Bale scored on his debut at Villarreal, but performances were not

always convincing and respected Spanish journalist Santiago
Segurola wrote in Marca: “Bale doesn’t know how to play football. He
only knows how to run.”

Ultimately, however, Bale delivered. The Welshman finished the

season as a hero after he scored a wonder goal that saw Madrid beat
Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey and headed home a crucial
second in the Champions League final against Atletico en route to a
10th European Cup crown for Real: La Decima.