Thibaut Courtois hits out at Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale | OneFootball

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has openly disparaged Gareth Bale for the Welshman’s failure to adapt to the Spanish way of life.

Bale joined Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 but the 29-year-old has often been criticised for a lack of effort when it comes to integrating into life in the Spanish capital.

The winger doesn’t speak the language well and reportedly spends much of his free time playing golf, earning him the nickname ‘The Golfer’ in the dressing room.

Courtois, on the other hand, previously spent three years on loan at Atlético before joining Los Blancos via Chelsea last summer and in an interview with Belgian outlet HLN, the 26-year-old gave an example of how Bale lives a very separate life to the rest of the squad.

“I live like someone who was born and raised in Madrid. I eat late, I go to bed late … It’s their way of life,” said Courtois.

“The other night all the team had dinner, but Bale and Toni [Kroos] did not show up. They thought the dinner was too late. We met at 9.30pm and we started eating at 10:15pm, at midnight we were all having a coffee.

“We went to bed around 1am to train the next day at 11am. For me, I think it’s a perfect amount of time to sleep. But Bale said: ‘I’m not going to join you guys, I’m going to bed at 11pm’ and he didn’t show up.”

Last week, Madrid left-back Marcelo also had a dig at Bale’s inability to speak Spanish.

“Kiko Casilla left and I was very close to him,” said the Brazilian.

“He sat next to me in the dressing room. I’d arrive and there would be Kiko sat there.

“But now I don’t have anyone next to me. There’s nobody there!

“On the other side I have Bale but he doesn’t say anything! He only speaks English, so you can imagine what that’s like! I’m like: “Hey! Hi! Hello and Goodbye…”

Bale recently scored his 100th goal for the LaLiga giants in the Madrid derby but he has often been linked with a return to the Premier League during his time at the Bernabéu and next season, he may finally find himself back among more familiar surroundings.