"The bad part is over. Now something good is starting"

Carlo Ancelotti had the chance to speak to Gareth Bale on two occasions on Monday - both before and after the player's official presentation when the club welcomed the Welshman and encouraged him to work hard to make up for his lack of pre-season training.

Ancelotti is well aware that Bale has not only fallen well behind in terms of fitness, but has also suffered from the psychological strain of the long negotiation period between Tottenham and Real Madrid.

For this reason, the first thing the Italian coach wants him to do is clear his head and forget about the past. "The bad part is over. Now something very good is starting for him and the team", the coach said.

Immense pressure
Ancelotti already has the player's medical reports, which show his good level of fitness. But it remains to be seen how Bale will handle his first games in a Real shirt and the immense pressure at the club. The winger will need support in this area, which is where Zidane will come in, as he has done so with the other new signings. However, Bale is not Isco, Illarramendi, Carvajal or Casemiro. The Welshman is the star signing and Ancelotti knows that there will be much less patience.

The two conversations between Ancelotti and Bale were important ones, not just because the player was welcomed to his new club, but also as a show of support to let him know he is a key player.