Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has admitted that his confidence suffered as a result of being jeered by his own supporters.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man has endured a turbulent time at the Bernabeu since his arrival in 2013, and Bale has been persistently linked with a move away from Los Blancos in recent months.
The Wales international has often been the target of verbal taunts from Real supporters during his time in the Spanish capital, and Bale has lifted the lid on how the booing has affected his confidence.
Speaking on US golf podcast The Eric Anders Lang Show, Bale said: "We get a lot of pressure every game. If you don't play well, there's scrutiny.
"I've had 80,000 people in a stadium whistle at me because I haven't played well. I've had it a few times! It's not nice and it doesn't do your confidence any good either.
"You would expect that if you're not having a good time on the pitch, your fans would get behind you and try to help you do better because it'll make them happy.
"But it seems that they do the opposite. They whistle you, which consequentially makes you feel worse, you lose your confidence, you play worse and then that makes them even more upset."
Bale, who has contributed just two goals and two assists during the 2019-20 campaign, is reportedly a priority target for Newcastle United's prospective new owners.
Ben Knapton
