Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has expressed his frustration being a pro footballer.

Bale has stated that he understands retired players who say that they get their life back once their playing career comes to an end.

"Yes, definitely [you get your life back] because as a professional athlete - especially in a team environment - you don't get to choose your schedule, maybe like a golf or a tennis player," Bale said on the 'State of Play' film which will be aired on BT Sport.

"So we're kind of just robots. We're told where to be, when to be there, what time we have to eat, what time we have to go to the coach. It's kind of like you lose your life in a way. You're kind of just told what to do.

"You don't get to choose what you want to do, when you want to do it. So yeah, I can completely understand why [they would say] that.

"But on another point, I think a career in football is so short that sometimes you just have to sacrifice it.

"Some people think it's worth it and some people think it's not. Everyone knows when it's time to retire and obviously that was the right time for [friend Lewin Nyatanga] to do that and he's happy."