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Cristiano Ronaldo: Gareth Bale opens up on their Real Madrid ‘problems’
CRISTIANO RONALDO left Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer, but his relationship with Gareth Bale played no part in his exit.
Real Madrid: Gareth Bale addresses Ronaldo feud rumours
Cristiano Ronaldo spent nine years in the Spanish capital, scoring an incredible 450 goals in just 438 games.
His relationship with Gareth Bale was regularly speculated on, with rumours circulating for years that the two didn’t see eye-to-eye.
However, Wales international Bale has slammed reports that they weren’t friends and went on to praise the Portugal captain.
"Cristiano is an incredible player, I thoroughly enjoyed playing with him," Bale told BT Sport’s What I Wore.
"Obviously the media try and hype up these problems which were never there. We got on really well.”
Bale joined Real in 2013 after playing a starring role for Tottenham in the Premier League.
Ronaldo very much remained the key man at the Bernabau after the Welshman’s arrival, but that didn’t put an end to reports of a rift.
He added: ”He's an incredible player and what he did for the club with the amount of goals he scored.
An incredible player and he is still going
“An incredible player and he is still going."
Ronaldo has scored 24 goals in 36 appearances for Juventus this season.
Altogugh that ratio is a drop from his time in Spain, his recent hat-trick against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League proved he still has what it takes at 34-years-old.
Bale himself has been heavily linked to the Madrid exit door this summer, and he has also revealed his love for his former side.
"I appreciated everything Tottenham had done for me but I think they did understand at the time,” Bale continued.
“When such a big club comes in for you like Real Madrid it is difficult to turn them down.
"Even though I was enjoying my time at Tottenham, loved the club and I still do, to have Real Madrid come for you, you'll regret saying no."
Bale and Wales take on Slovakia in their first 2020 European Championship qualifier on Sunday.