6 problems Santiago Solari must fix to succeed at Real Madrid

#2 Sort out Bale's role in the team

Bale has struggled since Ronaldo's departure

Gareth Bale was signed in the summer of 2013 by Real Madrid for a then world record fee from Tottenham, after his impressive performances in London saw him win the PFA Player of the Year on two occasions.

Since then, the Welshman has gone on to become one of the most decorated players of his generation, winning everything there is to win at club level at the Bernabeu.

However, on a personal level, the move has not been as beneficial for the 29-year-old, as injuries and a competition for places has limited his impact, with the result being that five years later, Madrid fans around the world are still divided on whether Bale has actually justified the huge outlay to get him.

There have been undeniable flashes of his brilliance and talent, with his bicycle kick in the UCL final against Liverpool alongside his solo run wonder goal against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey final of 2014 serving as proof of this, but he did not do this regularly enough to make a case for himself.

The reason for this was the presence of Ronaldo. The Portuguese was the former world most expensive player pre-Bale and with his status as possibly the greatest player in the history of Madrid, as well as being the symbol of the club for the nine years he spent there meant that the spotlight could not be shared with anyone else at the Bernabeu.

Gareth Bale voiced his displeasure at his lack of opportunities on multiple occasions, and rumours were rife that he would depart the club at the end of last season.

As it happened, however, it was Ronaldo that departed, and many believed the time was ripe for Gareth Bale to become the talisman of the team and show the world what he was truly capable of, having been in Ronaldo's shadows for five seasons.

However, Bale has struggled to step up to the plate since Ronaldo's departure, failing to influence matches in the manner that the Portuguese did.

After Ronaldo left the club, Bale was one of a number of players who opined that the team would become better and that he was pleased to be playing a central role, but with just 5 goals in 15 matches, he has not stepped up to the plate as an on-field leader, and this is an area that Solari would have to address.