Patience rewarded: Bale finally getting his chance to shine in Madrid

Little did Real Madrid know they’d signed Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement long before he decided to leave. But they had the perfect man. It was finally time for Gareth Bale to step out of the shadows and become the attraction.

There was no reason to indulge in the escalating auction that’s become the transfer market after Ronaldo’s departure. Bale was raring to go. Playing time had been so difficult to earn in his first five years at the Santiago Bernabeu – both injuries and a star-studded squad conspired against him – and his future was never settled. No number of big goals, not even three in European finals, could guarantee a consistent run in the side.

After winning a fourth Champions League in five years, Bale let his frustrations – which he had harnessed so well – seep through. “I need to be playing week in, week out and that hasn’t happened this season for one reason or another,” he said in May, almost challenging the hierarchy to do the right thing.

He’s finally earned the respect he deserves now that Ronaldo’s gone.

Bale’s playing some of his best football since joining the club in 2013, scoring eight goals in his last eight La Liga matches, and then again Wednesday in the Champions League. Karim Benzema is now the one teaming up with Bale on the right, and Luka Modric is finding the Welshman with more regularity.

There’s an organic chemistry here that would take months, even years, to establish with any other summer signing. Bale has the directness to punish opponents on the counter and the tactical awareness to stay wide and stretch defenders.

Julen Lopetegui praised Bale’s attitude and professionalism in August, two things no one could ever hold against him, especially after all the benchings and waiting games. The decision was made early in the post-Ronaldo era to make Bale the standard-bearer of this new-look Madrid.

“We have player who is a super professional player in all aspects, who is training with the motivation of a youth player and who is helping us enormously,” Lopetegui told Marca.

Bale has answered in kind.

He created five chances in the first half of Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Roma, and made no mistake with his effort on the break in the second. He was efficient whenever he had the ball, popping up on both flanks to help out and deliver balls into the area.

There was never any question Bale could perform at a high level, but whether he would ever get his chance was a real and valid concern. Injuries had played a part in all the upheaval – Marca estimated last November that Bale had missed one in three matches with various ankle and muscular problems – but some of the omissions were unrelated to fitness. ESPN and Guardian correspondent Sid Lowe categorized Bale’s relationship with Zidane as “virtually non-existent,” which would help explain why he was held out of the squad even when he was healthy.

Communicating with Lopetegui is much easier, not least because he can converse with Bale in English. The most important thing is that an understanding is growing. Lopetegui knows full-well Bale is the most talented player in his squad and he’s using him as such.

That trust has liberated the 29-year-old and encouraged him to do more. Measured per 90 minutes, Bale’s increased his shooting volume by 15 percent compared to last season. He clearly feels more empowered in the most dangerous situations – and that’s a good thing for Los Blancos.