Gareth Bale agent Jonathan Barnett has hit out at ‘stupid’ and ‘ignorant’ criticism from Spanish media after the Welshman was labelled a ‘parasite’ last month.
The Welshman’s nine-year spell at Real Madrid looks to be ending on a sour note with the 32-year-old set to depart on a free transfer this summer having played just five matches in all competitions this term – the last appearance coming in February.
His lack of action for Madrid has led to anger from Spanish publications after seeing Bale sitting in the dugout for long spells – Marca launched an astonishing attack on the former Tottenham star, calling him a ‘parasite’ who had been ‘sucking Real Madrid’s euros’.
Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett (R) has leapt to his defence over criticism from the media
He hit out at ‘stupid’ and ‘ignorant’ criticism after he was labelled a ‘parasite’ by Marca
Barnett insisted his client ‘loves the city and the club’ after winning 14 trophies in nine years
Bale – who has played more than 250 games for the club and won 14 trophies during that time – furiously hit back in a lengthy statement on social media, writing: ‘We all know who the real parasites are.’
And now Barnett has come to his defence after a tense few years in the Spanish capital where his client has come under fire for failing to learn the language fluently and infamously holding up a banner that read: ‘Wales, Golf, Madrid – in that order’.
‘Bale deserves a grand farewell from the club. And no, we have not yet decided on the future,’ Barnett said in an interview with Spanish outlet Deportes Cuatro.
‘He speaks Spanish. What happens is that people who do not know him say that he does not. Stupid and ignorant people who have not spoken to him. It’s a shame.
‘He has always been very happy in Madrid, he arrived as a young man, his children were born in the city, he has donated a lot of money to Spanish hospitals for Covid (a reported £400k) and he loves the city and the club, and I think…