Bale on Real team-mate CR7: "We've never had a problem"

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has insisted that he has "never had a problem" with Bernabéu team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

And Bale - who in Cristiano's absence inspired Real to a come-from-behind victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday - said the Portuguese aided his settling-in process following his summer 2013 move to the club.

"He speaks English, which helped me when I first got here," the 26-year-old told The Times ahead of Real's Champions League semi-final clash with Manchester City. "We also have that link from the Premier League. We get on really well."

The pair's relationship has faced consistent media scrutiny, particularly after Cristiano was seen to react angrily after Bale did not pass to him during an attack against Espanyol in early 2015.

But Bale explained: "The press make a lot of things that maybe we don't but we get on fine. We've never had a problem. I've never had an argument with him.

"He's a very, very passionate person on the pitch - everyone knows that," the Welshman added. "He's very determined. People sometimes seem to take that the wrong way. We haven't had a problem."