As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Ancelotti swipe at 'selfish' Real Madrid star Bale

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken a swipe at Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.

The pair won the Champions League together at Real.

“Altruism in a squad is important, because if there's something that drives me mad, it's people who are egotistic in a match situation," Ancelotti told Il Napolista.

“Those moments when a player really should pass the ball and he doesn't. I paid for this in my own career.

“The reason the row with Florentino Perez exploded in Madrid was my substitution of Bale against Valencia. Bale should've passed it to Karim Benzema, who would've scored in front of an open goal, but instead he took the shot.

“I hauled Bale off and the chaos erupted. Perhaps excessive altruism is also a limitation in a striker, as he needs a bit of egotism, but not if it's over the top.

“It seems bad to say this, but if Napoli's forwards were a little more egotistical, we might get a few advantages out of that."

Video of the day:

Carlos Volcano
About the author

Carlos Volcano

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free