Julen Lopetegui tips Gareth Bale for strong season

Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui has backed Gareth Bale to have an impressive season as the pressure is cranked up on the Welshman following Cristiano Ronaldo's summer exit.

Bale is expected to be the main source of goals for Madrid this term, and the attacker has netted in each of the Spanish outfit's last three pre-season fixtures.

The 29-year-old managed 21 goals in all competitions for Los Blancos last term, and Lopetegui has said that the Spanish club "are so happy" with the former Tottenham Hotspur left-back.

"I'm not going to talk about past seasons. The Bale we have now is committed, content, wanting to have a great season. He is training very well, happy, and we are so happy with him. This has only just begun," Lopetegui told reporters.

Bale - linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this summer - has managed 88 goals for Madrid since arriving at the club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.