Former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has called on Gareth Bale to toughen up.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Dutchman discussed Bale, who he played alongside at Tottenham between 2010 and 2013.

"It's strange, but in Holland we say that sometimes you need to be an a***hole," he said.

"You can also be a positive a***hole. He's worth €100m -- they paid a lot of money and he has to do it. In his last year at Spurs, he took every free-kick, he decided everything.

“That's what he has to do now. I realise it's difficult, because you have so many good players, but he should do it more."