Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has backed Gareth Bale to handle the growing uncertainty over his future.
Madrid travel to Leganes in LaLiga on Monday 14 points behind leaders Barcelona and five adrift of city rivals Atletico.
Bale has been targeted by the club’s fans and made a scapegoat for a disappointing season at the Bernabeu.
Madrid are reportedly ready to offload him for £113million during a summer clear-out but Casemiro believes Bale will ignore the speculation and criticism.
He told the club’s official site: “He’s an experienced player who can deal with anything. Eventually, you get used to the pressure and you have to be able to cope with it if you’re at the biggest club in the world.
“When they jeer our team-mate, they’re jeering all of us because we think as a group and as a squad.
“It affects that player, but it affects all of us too. Perhaps he’s not had his best season, but this club demands the best and we can’t forget he’s brought us many titles and scored lots of goals.”
7 – Gareth Bale is one game from equalling his worst run without scoring in #LaLiga for Real Madrid: seven (January – March 2015). Spotlight pic.twitter.com/X6kRxgd547— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 2, 2018
Wales forward Bale has scored 14 goals in 27 starts in all competitions this season despite suffering adductor, ankle and calf injuries.
His absences have not helped Madrid, who were also dumped out of the Champions League in the second round by Ajax last month.
They sit third in LaLiga but Casemiro has demanded a big finish.
⚽💪 The lads are out on the #RMCity training pitch for their Sunday session! It's the last one ahead of Monday's #RMLiga clash against @CDLeganes_en. #HalaMadridpic.twitter.com/B45Ykofqqs— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 14, 2019
“We’ve still got seven games to go and we have to do a good job because this club always demands the best and we’re obliged to give it our all,” said the Brazil international.
“We know LaLiga is very tough but we’ve got seven games to play well and restore some pride to this shirt. If Barcelona win it we’ll congratulate them but we’re focused on giving it all we’ve got.
“It’s huge motivation and was a dream for me to leave home and come to Real Madrid.
“Training here every day is a dream come true and winning all the trophies I can with this club is another lifelong goal.
“But this club always wants to win, that’s what it’s shown me and I always want to be the best I can be to help my team-mates and the club itself.”
Leganes are 12th in the table, 10 points above the bottom three.
“We are the one who need to motivate the fans. We are confident that our fans will not get tired of supporting us. We need them to end as high as possible,” midfielder Alexander Szymanowski told the club’s website.
