Gareth Bale urged to snub summer Chelsea move

Wales manager Chris Coleman has backed out-of-form Gareth Bale to ignore rumours linking him with a move to Chelsea and focus on proving himself at Real Madrid.

Bale has endured a torrid time with the European champions in recent months and has regularly been booed by the club’s supporters after struggling to justify his world-record £86 million transfer fee.

Speculation is rife that the former Spurs ace is set to return to the Premier League, with the Blues linked with a £71 million summer move, while Manchester United are also in the mix.

The 25-year-old Welshman scored twice in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Levante to end a 10-game barren run, and celebrated his first by covering his ears before kicking a corner flag in frustration.

And Coleman, who manages Bale at international level, says that the winger is stoic enough to handle criticism and respond to it.

“He should stay where he is. Chelsea are a huge club and have been successful as are Manchester United – but Real Madrid is Real Madrid,” he told reporters.

“He’s good enough to win the big trophies, play on the big stage and play with the biggest club.

“Real Madrid is different from Manchester United or Chelsea because while there is pressure on them to perform in every game, at Madrid it is almost like a show and you have to entertain as well as win.

“Baley is the most expensive player in the world and there is more politics to it. He’s been caught up in a bit of a storm. Some of it’s been a bit personal.

“But, knowing Gareth, I’d be really surprised if he said, ‘I’ve had enough, I’m not accepting that and I’m coming home.’

“I don’t think he should come home. He should stay where he is. In my opinion, he is good enough to win trophies with Madrid and entertain at Real Madrid at the highest level.”

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