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Real Madrid team-mates 'not passing enough' to Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo
Image: Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo during Real's 2-1 loss to Juventus

Gareth Bale’s agent thinks the Welsh winger is suffering at Real Madrid because his team-mates are not passing him the ball enough, but insists he will not leave the club.

Bale's troubled second season in Spain continued with an ineffectual performance in last week's Champions League defeat at Juventus and he failed to shine again in Saturday's 2-2 La Liga draw at home to Valencia.

Bale made fewer passes than most of his team-mates during the 2-1 loss in Turin and, with just 32 touches of the ball, saw less of the action than goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

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Gareth Bale endured another difficult night in a Real Madrid shirt as the defending champions were beaten 2-1 by Juventus

However, UEFA stats showed that he covered more ground than many of his team-mates, suggesting he is being deprived of the ball by other Real players.

Agent Jonathan Barnett responded to Bale’s Turin critics, pointing to the fact that the Welshman covered an average of 113 metres per minute, more than five team-mates including Cristiano Ronaldo (who covered 101), yet had only 32 touches of the ball.

“We’ve been vindicated by these statistics and it’s what we’ve been saying all along,” Barnett was quoted as saying in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

“It proves that people don’t know what they’re talking about when they criticise Gareth, they are not looking at it properly.

Every top club in the world would want to sign him but he will be at Real Madrid next season. There's no way he is going anywhere in the summer.
Gareth Bale's agent

"Real have to work with Gareth and pass the ball to him more. Give him more of the ball and let him show everybody what he's good at.

"He's going to be the best player at Real Madrid when his team-mates work with him and help him. Hopefully Real will come to terms with this."

Real are in danger of ending the season without defending their Champions League crown or securing a first La Liga title since 2012 having now slipped four points behind leaders Barcelona with two matches left.

Bale's stats are actually only marginally weaker than last season, with 17 goals and 10 assists in 46 matches compared to 22 goals and 12 assists in 44 games in 2013-14.

Real broke the world transfer record to buy the 25-year-old and he enjoyed a trophy-laden first season in the Spanish capital, which saw him score in the finals of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

But in a dramatic turnaround for the former Tottenham player, lately he has been struggling to live up to expectations in a season partly disrupted by injury and has been whistled by disgruntled fans at the Bernabeu.

He has been criticised for being selfish in front of goal and not contributing enough in defence.

Gareth Bale stats for Real Madrid against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final first leg
Image: Gareth Bale stats for Real Madrid against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final first leg

However, although admitting that Bale is angry and upset with his current situation, and despite constant speculation regarding his future, Barnett said the player has no plans to quit the club.                             

"Most people would have been broken by this but he is determined," Barnett said.

"He could have screamed and shouted or knocked on the manager's office door but he doesn't want to upset anyone.

"Every top club in the world would want to sign him but he will be at Real Madrid next season.

"There's no way he is going anywhere in the summer. When we said he always wanted to play for Real, it was 100 percent true and he's determined to be a success there."   

Watch Real Madrid v Juventus on Wednesday, May 13 from 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 5 HD. 

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