Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has called for Gareth Bale to be given time to settle at his new club.

Bale has made seven appearances since his £100 million move but has yet to play a full game.

The former Spurs winger has been suffering from a muscle injury since his arrival in Spain.

He did start Saturday's El Clasico but was played in the centre of a front three - a role which he is not accustomed to.

But Ancelotti says patience is required: "It's true that in the last few games he hasn't done extraordinary things, but a player who arrives at a new team, in a new culture, needs time to adapt,"

Bale's Tottenham performances have been enough to get him nominated on the long list for the Ballon Do'r World player of the year award.