SPANISH media often suggested Gareth Bale could not be bothered to learn their lingo – but apparently he is more than happy to hablo espanol.
The Welshman won five Champions League trophies and just about everything else during his nine-year spell at Real Madrid – but never really won over all of their fans.
The rocky relationship was not helped when Bale held up a banner which read 'Wales, Golf, Madrid – In that order', after he led his country to Euro 2020 qualification in 2019.
But this summer's switch to MLS-side Los Angeles FC appears to have reignited the 33-year-old's passion for club football.
On Saturday he made his home debut as a sub as they came from behind to beat Seattle Sounders and go seven points clear at the top of the Western Conference.
Former Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini also made his home LA bow.
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Now Bale's new Barcelona-born team-mate Ilie Sanchez has rejected claims he is not enthusiastic about speaking Spanish.
The former 1860 Munich midfielder, 31, told Diario AS: "Gareth speaks to me in Spanish.
"I am the only Spanish one, but there are many South Americans and Central Americans in the squad.
"And he only wants to speak Spanish with us.
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"In fact, sometimes we speak to him in English and he responds to us in Spanish!"
Bale's commitment levels were also questioned at the La Liga giants, but Sanchez added: "When you see he is your colleague, that makes us push a little more to compete and to try to win.
"And everything we have seen and felt with him has been pure commitment. He wants to help us to win titles."
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