Bale demeans MLS in message to Messi: “It doesn’t matter if you lose”
Gareth Bale was asked what advice he would give Lionel Messi ahead of the Argentinean’s move to Inter Miami: “He’ll definitely enjoy it”.
Gareth Bale was one of the last big name players to move to MLS, joining LAFC in June last year. Not long after winning the title with Los Angeles and playing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Welsh forward announced he would be hanging up his boots for good.
You might also enjoy
Now, with Lionel Messi’s imminent arrival at Inter Miami, Bale was asked by BT Sports pundit Peter Crouch what advice he would give to the Argentinean and what he can expect playing in MLS. Bale’s reply was surprising - while he assured that Messi is bound to have fun playing in North America, he also made bizarre comparisons to Real Madrid and his appraisal of MLS appeared a little derogatory.
“It’s good, it’s a lot more chilled. Like, if you lose at Madrid it’s like the world’s ended, you’re crucified. If you’re down, you go home, you’re not happy whereas, they kind of accept losing a bit more. There are no consequences, you can’t get relegated... you just lose a game and go to the next one. You kind of accept losing a lot better over there. They know how to lose but, every win, they celebrate like they’ve won the championship so he’ll definitely enjoy it,” Bale told Crouch and Jermaine Jenas.
LAFC hero
Gareth Bale announced he would be joining LAFC on 25 June 2022 after several months of inactivity at Real Madrid. He made his official debut on 18 July in the 2-1 win over Nashville SC.
That same year, he was part of the team that won the MLS Cup trophy, beating the Philadelphia Union on penalties in the final. Bale scored the equalizer in extra-time to send the game into extra-time, then a shootout.
Bale only played 14 games of the MLS regular season and scored three goals during his stay with the Californian team, with whom he also won the Supporter’s Shield.