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October 23, 2013

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Don鈥檛 pressure Bale too much, Ronaldo says

Cristiano Ronaldo knows a thing or two about high expectations and the Portuguese forward has urged people not to put excessive pressure on his new Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale and allow him time to settle in.

Bale succeeded Ronaldo as the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of 100 million euros (US$137 million) in the close season but he has barely featured after getting a thigh strain.

Bale was a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 La Liga win at home to Malaga, winning a late penalty converted by Ronaldo, and could play in today’s Champions League Group B clash against Juventus at the Bernabeu.

Lining up against the Italian champions would be the first genuine test as a Real player for the 24-year-old Bale, who scored on his debut in a 2-2 La Liga draw at Villarreal.

“People are putting a lot of pressure on him because of what he cost and all that but I don’t think it’s good for him,” Ronaldo said yesterday.

“If you want to try to help him don’t put too much pressure on him... leave him alone,” added the 28-year-old, top scorer in Europe’s elite club competition with five goals in two games.

 


 

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