Gareth Bale: It's not easy if you come from Britain to triumph here

Gareth Bale: It's not easy if you come from Britain to triumph here

The Welsh forward doesn't think it's easy for British players to succeed abroad but is happy at Real Madrid for another six years

Gareth Bale says he has had a difficult journey at Real Madrid but has learned how to cope with negative attitudes towards him - and that it isn't easy for a British player to triumph abroad. 

"I had one season where it wasn't the best but that made me grow up as a player and person," he said.

"It made me learn to deal with whatever is thrown at me. "In football you have good seasons and bad seasons, there was no real turning point," he said. "Sometimes things go for you, sometimes they don't. If things are going bad and you keep working hard, things will turn around eventually.

"I understand with media you'll get good and bad press. But if you take too much notice you'll put yourself down."

Asked about his time in Spain, he added: "It's changed me quite a lot. The reason I came was to try something different. It's never easy. British players travelling abroad are usually not successful but I wanted to try.

"I feel more comfortable each year I'm here. I'm improving my Spanish, my family are more settled. I fully expect to see out my contract here. I don't know when I'll retire. I'm not looking past the next six years."

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