A wink, Bale's message to Guardiola ahead of Champions League final

Real Madrid were one of the most successful UEFA Champions League sides of the last decade. They won four European Cups in a row and boosted Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Arabian league and is the promoter of the entire Middle East region.

It was not only the Portuguese star who achieved all the glories. Team-mates such as Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Karim Benzema were instrumental in all the UEFA Champions League trophies they lifted and in creating the image of a side that seemed unbeatable every time they reached the finals.

But one figure who was fundamental as Cristiano Ronaldo's team-mate, and who also had his share of controversy within the Whites, was Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger did not have his best spell with the Spanish side, but his incredible goals gave him the edge he needed to succeed in Europe's top competition.

Bale is now retired and left Real Madrid through the back door. He even refused to leave the institution because of the large salary he was receiving, and the lack of interest from other teams to have his services. His last team was LAFC of the MLS, where Lionel Messi will now be, having just signed for David Beckham's Inter Miami.

Bale's message to Guardiola

In an interview ahead of the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, the Welshman gave a scandalous 5-0 scoreline in favour of the Citizens and also made it known that, in his opinion, Kevin de Bruyne would be the most valuable player in this final to be played in Istanbul, Turkey.