Real Madrid

Mark Hughes urges Gareth Bale to stay at Real Madrid

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 22 April 2015

Former Wales and Barcelona forward Mark Hughes urges Gareth Bale to stay at Real Madrid for as long as possible despite speculation linking him with a move away.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has urged Gareth Bale to stay at Real Madrid for 'as long as he can'.

The 25-year-old joined the Spanish giants for a world-record fee in 2013 and enjoyed a successful debut season in the capital, but he has been criticised for his performances in the current campaign.

Numerous reports have suggested that the winger is considering a move back to the Premier League, but Hughes, who spent a year at Barcelona during his own illustrious playing career, believes that it is too big an opportunity for his compatriot to throw away.

"He's done everything right up to this point and having a huge impact over there but if he can, stay as long as you can. It's such an opportunity. From my own personal experience I made the mistake of thinking 'I'll just go for a couple of years and I'll be back home and continue my career' which is totally the wrong approach," Hughes told BBC Sport.

"When you get the opportunity to go to a club such as Barcelona or Real Madrid you've got to go with the intention that you're going to try and stay there for as long as you can until they actually kick you out of the door. I went there when I was 23 but I was a young 23. I wasn't married and I'd only just met my wife-to-be a couple of months before.

"It was difficult - I was out there on my own at times. If you have a good support network, which by all accounts Gareth has over there, I'd say stay as long as you can because you'll look back and think what a great experience that was. It shapes you as a person, as an individual and that shouldn't be underestimated what effect that will have on you in later years as well."

Bale is currently sidelined through injury and played no part in his side's progression to the semi-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid this evening.