Frank Lampard backs Bale

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has backed Welshman Gareth Bale to be a success at Real Madrid, but he says that it will be only possible if the former Tottenham star starts becoming more selfish in front of goal.

Bale moved to Madrid for a world record transfer fee of £ 85 million in 2013. He won the Champions League and the Copa del Rey in his first season at the club. Even though he did not score the same number of goals as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale contributed immensely in this crucial campaign for the club. This season, however, he has struggled for form.

The 25-year-old has scored 10 goals and contributed five assists in 20 matches this season, but it does not appear to have been sufficient for the Real Madrid supporters. Bale has been vocally criticised by his own supporters, although only a small section.

This has led to rumours that Madrid may consider letting the player return to English football where he enjoyed immense success. Lampard remains as one of the top midfielders of his generation and he says that Bale has been too much of a nice guy in this campaign. In order to help Ronaldo, Bale has been passing up a number of opportunities.

“I get the feeling he is a nice boy. There is a bit of ego and he should have some because of what he has achieved in the game, but maybe there is a moment when he thinks ‘should I go for goal and take it on or should I look for the other option in case I get criticised?’I hope that goes out of his game very quickly because if that is there it is going to affect him. I would like to see Cristiano come out and say there is no issue because he is the boss really and he maybe needs to say that,” said Lampard.