Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Cristiano Ronaldo 'can throw his arms up but that's how he is', says Gareth Bale ahead of Champions League final

The Welshman insists he has a good relationship with his Real Madrid team-mate

Milan

Thursday 26 May 2016 11:50 BST

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Gareth Bale and Marcelo (Getty)

Gareth Bale has addressed the persistent reports that he has a difficult relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting that he gets on well with his Real Madrid team-mate.

Bale, who is preparing for his second Champions League final just three years after moving to the Bernabeu, suggests speculation comes from Ronaldo's emotional on-pitch persona.

"The media try to create a lot of problems. But we’ve never had a problem in the dressing room or on the pitch," Bale told Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport.

"I think you know yourself he’s an emotional player on the pitch, he can throw his arms up now and then but that’s how he is.

"He works hard for the teams and scores goals which is important but as I said we’ve never had a problem. We get on really well. We speak. He speaks English which is good for me. I’m enjoying playing together.

"You can see he’s dedicated, always in the gym working hard and stuff like that. I think he’s a bit more laid back than he was at United. He tends to make quite a few jokes and messes around as well which is good for the team spirit. He’s been great since I’ve been here and hopefully we can win more trophies now with him here."

Cristiano Ronaldo (Getty)

Real Madrid take on Atletico Madrid at the San Siro on Saturday night, bidding to win their 11th European crown. Bale played a huge part in Real Madrid winning 'La Decima' - their 10th European Cup - when they beat Atletico in the 2014 final. It was the Welshman who scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 4-1 comeback win in Lisbon. Bale hopes that victory can give Real Madrid a psychological lift ahead of this weekend's game in Milan, despite Atletico having a hold over their near neighbours in recent years.

"They’re a very difficult team to play against. They’re very defensive and tend to park the bus, as people say. We know a lot about them and, yeah, we haven’t had the greatest of record against them in the last 10 games," said Bale, alluding to the fact Real Madrid have beaten Atletico just twice in their last 12 meetings.

(Getty)

"But I suppose we can always look back on the final and when it counts we put in the performance and got the result. Hopefully that’s a scar for them, it won’t give them too much confidence. We’re confident going into the game that we can win like we are in any other game and hopefully we can win our second Champions League."

The Champions League final kicks off at 7.45pm BST on Saturday.

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Show all 18

1/18The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Marco Reus (Germany/Borussia Dortmund)

Germany coach Joachim Low explained why the midfield sensation wasn't included in his squad: 'Marco has serious health problems. At the moment, he can only run in a straight line. The doctors are sceptical that he will be fully fit in the coming weeks'. The midfielder also missed the 2014 World Cup through injury

2016 Getty Images

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Raphael Varane (France/Real Madrid)

After picking up a thigh injury in training and being ruled out of the Champions League final, Varane’s woes have been compounded by the injury ruling him out of the the Euro’s.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Santi Cazorla (Spain/Arsenal)

After playing a pivotal role in Arsenal’s impressive start of the season, Cazorla was on the sidelines for 5 months with a knee injury. His return to action proved unable to convince Del Bosque to include him in Spain’s final squad.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Juan Mata (Spain/Manchester United)

Mata was one of United’s more consistent players this season scoring 6 goals and getting 5 assists. However, Mata, a scorer in the Euro 2012 final, will not join up with a Spain squad nearly inundated with creative central midfielders.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Christian Eriksen (Denmark/Tottenham)

A star in Spurs’ ascendency up the Premier League, Erikson and Denmark missed out on Euro qualification after coming up short in the playoff round to an Ibrahimovic-inspired Sweden.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Danny Drinkwater (England/Leicester)

After a wonderful season for the eventual champions the midfielder made a strong claim for inclusion

PA

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Andros Townsend (England/Newcastle)

Has scored some crucial goals for England and always impressed for the national team. However a largely disappointing season, albeit with a late flourish of form for Newcastle, cost him his place

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Danny Welbeck (England/Arsenal)

A stunning last-ditch goal against Leicester on Valentines Day marked Welbeck’s return from nearly a year on the treatment table. After a few goals and some impressive performances marking his return, his injury against Man City will have shook the player as well as ruling him out for the rest of the year.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Herinkh Mkhitaryan (Armenia/Dortmund)

Dortmund’s impressive resurgence brought with it a new star in Mkhitaryan. Now linked to Europe’s giants, the Armenian won’t have a chance to shine in France after finishing last, and winless, in their qualifying group.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Arjen Robben (Holland/Bayern Munich)

Holland’s failure to qualify for Euro 2016 will be felt no harder than by Arjen Robben. Now 32, time is not on his side, and with promising Dutch players in Quincy Promes, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Jeremain Lens, all vying for Robben’s place on the wing, we might not see him starting in Russia should Holland qualify.

Getty Images

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Miralem Pjanić (Bosnia Herzegovina/Roma)

After another impressive season with Roma, Pjanić will be disappointed in his nations inability to overturn Wales and qualify for France. However, his nation’s failures may prove beneficial for the midfielder, as participation in the continent’s showpiece might’ve stalled a potential transfer. Roma’s star man has been linked with a big-money move to Chelsea.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Vincent Kompany (Belgium/Manchester City)

Plagued by injuries this past season, Kompany will be gutted to miss out on what many see as Belgium’s golden opportunity to compete for the trophy. The inclusion of former Man City player Dedryck Boyata to cover for Kompany, won’t comfort many Belgian fans.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Marco Verratti (Italy/PSG)

Verratti endured a frustrating season as a consistent groin injury plagued him this past season. His season as well as his Euro hopes, were ended by surgery. Conte admitted his frustration with Verratti’s injury as it deals a harsh blow to Italy’s tournament chances. PSG hope that he’ll be ready for the start of next season.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Kurt Zouma (France/Chelsea)

After establishing himself as the first-choice centre-back alongside JT, Zouma suffered a horrific knee injury during a match against Man United. The strong, and surprisingly pacey, defender might prove a big loss to France.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Ilkay Gundogan (Germany/Dortmund)

Having missed out on Germany’s successful World Cup campaign, Gundogan has now been ruled out of the Euro’s after dislocating his kneecap. This latest injury setback has come on the back of a good season with Dortmund, where he started 22 games.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Aymeric Laporte (France/Athletic Bilbao)

Laporte joins the lengthening list of injured French centre-backs. Didier Deschamps will be hoping that Mangala manages to overcome his struggles in the premiership to form a strong partnership with Laurent Koscielny. Laporte broke his leg and twisted his ankle earlier this year while playing for Frances U21 team in a match against Scotland.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Claudio Marchisio (Italy/Juventus)

Conte’s central-defensive midfield woes were compounded by Marchisio’s season ending injury. A fine passer of the ball, and the engine in the heart of Juventus’ formidable midfield, Marchisio ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a match against Palermo, ruling him out for six months.

Getty

The best players who won't be at Euro 2016

Alan Dzagoev (Russia/CSKA Moskva)

With a lightning turn of pace and an ability to double-up as a winger and a centre-defensive mid, Dzagoev’s absence might prove fatal to Russia’s hopes of navigating a tricky group alongside England, Wales, and Slovenia. Dzagoev broke his foot in CSKA’s last match of the season where they managed to clinch the Russian League title.

Getty

Watch ‘Rio Meets...Gareth Bale’ on BT Sport. BT Sport is your home of unmissable live football, watch the UEFA Champions League final exclusively live from Saturday 28th May from 7pm on BT Sport Europe, BT Sport Showcase, btsport.com and for the first time ever on YouTube at youtube.com/btsportofficial

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies