Dimitar Berbatov has admitted that he 'often wonders' why his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Gareth Bale is still at Real Madrid considering the criticism he receives.

Bale has scored 105 goals in 250 appearances for Madrid, winning one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey and four Champions League crowns during his time at the Bernabeu.

The 30-year-old has largely struggled to win over the club's supporters, though, and has found it difficult to contribute this season, scoring just three times in 19 appearances.

Berbatov has claimed that the Wales international is unlikely to ever change the opinions of the majority of the club's fans due to the deep-rooted "negativity towards him".

"Gareth Bale hasn't been getting much game time," Berbatov told Betfair. "Playing behind closed doors could be helpful for him and his confidence, but I imagine fans will still boo him while they are watching on TV.

"I never understand the way some of the Real Madrid fans boo their own players. I think the criticism he gets it a bit more personal than other players. Whatever he does, even if he scores five goals in a game, there will still be something the fans will criticise.

"I often wonder, with the amount of stick he gets, why is he still there. But something is working for him and he likes it there, but whatever he does there is always going to be some negativity towards him and I don't understand it."

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has again recently denied suggestions that he has a poor relationship with the former Southampton left-back.