EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United target Gareth Bale will respond to Real Madrid critics

GARETH BALE will prove his critics wrong if he stays at Real Madrid come the end of the season.

Gareth Bale Player Profile

That is the view of former Wales manager Bobby Gould.

Bale has struggled to win over the Real faithful in recent months, and his car was reportedly attacked in the wake of his side's 2-1 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona last Sunday.

The 25-year-old, who lifted the Champions League in his debut campaign with Los Blancos last term, has been continually talked up with a return to the Premier League and Manchester United are thought to be credited with a serious interest.

Louis van Gaal is thought to be planning a major overhaul of his squad in the summer and is widely expected to be given a transfer kitty in excess of £100million to spend on new recruitments.

But Gould, who was speaking ahead of the Bristol regional heat to find the 'People's Pundit' championed by Carlsberg, the official beer of the Premier League, maintains Bale should ride out the storm at the Bernabeu, as he feels he will answer his detractors.

Bale, Wales, Manchester United, MUFC, Real Madrid, futureGETTY

Gareth Bale has been backed to ride out the storm at Real Madrid

He hasn't got that media coverage in Wales. He will respond no doubt about that

Bobby Gould

"If that goal hadn't been disallowed against Barcelona, he would have been a hero again. That is how close the margin is between success and failure," Gould told Express Sport.

"He would have come out of that, the pressure would have been taken off him. When you go and live abroad, you have to learn the language and adapt.

"With Gareth, he's still very young and he will grow. He has to become that leader and he has the opportunity to have a week away from Real Madrid without the media glare.

"He hasn't got that media coverage in Wales - he's a hero in his home country."

Bale will take to the pitch this afternoon as Wales take on Israel (5pm) in a Euro 2016 qualifier, and Chris Coleman's men are edging ever closer to securing their place at the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1958.

Bale, Wales, Manchester United, MUFC, Real Madrid, futureGETTY

Gareth Bale training with Wales ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel

And Gould thinks Bale is really asserting himself in the national set-up.

He added: "What I saw against Andorra, I never thought I would see in European football. I saw this young man get hold of the game that I didn't think I would ever see.

"He organised the players after the game and he has maintained that. The stature he holds within Welsh football is phenomenal."

The mission of the Carlsberg fan squad is to make football better for fans. That's why, If Carlsberg did Pundits…they'd probably be just like you. Carlsberg and talkSPORT have joined forces to give one fan their big break on national radio and next Thursday sees the potential pundits face off in Bristol. If you fancy watching our pundits take each other on, alongside Bobby, head to the V-Shed, The Waterfront, Canons Road, Bristol at 8pm. Find out more at ThePeoplesPundit.co.uk #PeoplesPundit

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