Spanish outlet Marca launched an extraordinary and unacceptable attack against Gareth Bale on Thursday.

Marca went in on Bale ahead of Wales' World Cup playoff match against Austria.

"The Bale parasite came from the cold and rainy Britannia," Journalist Manuel Julia Dorado wrote.

"He settled in Spain, at Real Madrid, where, masked, he first showed diligence and love for the guest, but then his nature led him to suck blood without giving anything in return. Well, more than blood, he sucked, and sucks, the club's euros.

"Unlike others of its kind, such as the flea, the louse or the bedbug, the Bale parasite does not cause itching or illnesses in its host, but after sucking, it laughs and makes fun of it, showing a jocular contempt for the one from whom he lives.

"He laughs, applauds, throws himself on the ground, sings, as a kind of humiliating ceremony, which, luckily, has an expiration date, like all misfortunes."

VALENCIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga Santader match between Levante UD and Real Madrid CF at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Valencia, . (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images)

VALENCIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 22: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga Santader match between Levante UD and Real Madrid CF at Ciutat de Valencia Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Valencia, . (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images)

Bale went on to score twice for Wales as they beat Austria in their World Cup playoff match on Thursday evening. After the game, he said the Spanish newspaper should be ashamed.

The 32-year-old has now written a powerful statement in response to the article.

As well as hitting back at the Spanish newspaper, he's also called on journalistic standards as a whole to improve.

View his statement below...

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Well said, Gareth.

Bale's heroics for Wales on Thursday evening mean Wales will face off against either Scotland or Ukraine in June.

The victor of that match will then earn a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

With the brilliant Bale in their ranks, Wales have an excellent chance of making it to the finals.

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