Gareth Bale follows David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and, erm, Joey Barton by playing with Alice band on

The £86m Welshman has a new look for the new season

Gareth Bale pictured in Los Angeles last week wearing the alice band (GETTY IMAGES)

Not content with just wearing the headwear for a BT Sports advert, it appears that Gareth Bale will start the new season with Real Madrid by sporting an Alice band, after playing with one on again during the 1-0 friendly defeat by Roma in Dallas last night. He has also wore one during the 1-1 draw with Inter Milan on Saturday.

The Welshman, who moved to Madrid for a world record £86m last summer, has taken a page out of David Beckham's book. The former England captain has resorted to the hair-pulling band throughout his career while growing his hair, or just his fringe, for a new look.

But is Bale really wearing the band in homage to his team-mate, the world's best player Cristiano Ronaldo? The mercurial Portuguese forward was partial to wearing the band while he was at Manchester United.

David Beckham (GETTY IMAGES)

Cristiano Ronaldo (GETTY IMAGES)

It hasn't always just been free-flowing wingers that have played in an Alice band though - even hardman Joey Barton played in one.

Joey Barton (GETTY IMAGES)

Fernando Torres (GETTY IMAGES)

And they haven't always inspired success either, Fernando Torres wore one during one of his lengthy baron spells with Chelsea, then cut all of his hair off...and still didn't score.