Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has given his full backing to under-fire forward Gareth Bale following recent criticism directed at the Welshman from the Bernabeu stands.
The 25-year-old has failed to match the heights set in his maiden campaign in Spanish football, bagging just one assist and zero goals in his last nine outings for Los Blancos.
That has led to certain sections of the club's fanbase jeering the former Tottenham Hotspur man when he is on the ball, although Perez has denied that Madrid are looking to offload the world's most expensive player in the summer.
"Gareth Bale is one of the best players in the world," he told reporters. "The biggest clubs fought and continue to fight to secure his services. The only thing I can say is that we shouldn't forget what he was able to achieve in his first year at Real Madrid."
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who also received the full backing of Perez, remains confident that Bale's form will improve over the coming games.
Daniel Lewis
