Gareth Bale is not lazy and should stay at Real Madrid, says Chris Coleman

Wales manager has told the unsettled winger he is better off at the Bernabeu

Gareth Bale gets back to goalscoring form for Real Madrid at Levante last weekend (GETTY IMAGES)

The Wales manager, Chris Coleman, has urged Gareth Bale not to return to the Premier League. The Real Madrid player has come in for severe criticism from the Spanish fans and press after failing to register a goal or an assist in nine games before his weekend double at Levante.

Manchester United and Chelsea are keen to take advantage and bring the unsettled former Tottenham player back to English football this summer. But Coleman has told the 25-year-old he is better off at the Bernabeu.

“Gareth should stay where he is,” said Coleman. “Chelsea are a huge club and have been successful, as have Manchester United, but Real Madrid is Real Madrid. He’s good enough to win the big trophies, play on the big stage and with the biggest clubs.

“Real Madrid is different from Manchester United or Chelsea because, while there is pressure on them to perform in every game, at Madrid it is almost like a show.

“Gareth’s been caught up in a bit of a storm. But I’d be really surprised if he said, ‘I’ve had enough, I’m not accepting that and I’m coming home.’

“Everyone has good and bad periods. You just have to get through it. I don’t think he should come home. He should stay where he is.”

Coleman, who had a spell in Spain managing Real Sociedad, said he had been shocked at how personal the criticism of Bale had become, with the Wales international being described as lazy and selfish.

Those are characteristics Coleman does not recognise in his key player. “Lazy is not a word I would use about Gareth Bale,” he said. “I’ve got all the data on him for when he plays for us. He is always up there. He is high intensity. His sprints are always far and beyond anyone else. It’s unbelievable. I wouldn’t call the criticism he has had fair. I hope the criticism does not reach a point where it is untenable for him. If I am being selfish, he is fresher physically playing in La Liga than in the Premier League.

“The Premier League is harder physically so when we get him he is probably in better condition than when he was at Tottenham.”

Coleman was speaking as he named his 23-man Wales squad for next week’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel. The team will go top of Group B if they can beat the current leaders in Haifa.

Coleman has the Burnley striker Sam Vokes available for the first time in a year, but Hull defender James Chester misses out through injury. Aaron Ramsey is included after returning from a hamstring problem.

But Coleman says he would have no hesitation throwing the 24-year-old into the heat of battle from the off.