Thibaut Courtois has suggested that Gareth Bale is continuing to cut an isolated figure at Real Madrid.

Bale recently scored his 100th goal for Madrid, while he has a respectable total of 12 goals in 30 appearances for the Spanish club this season despite suffering from a number of injuries.

The 29-year-old's grasp of the Spanish language is still believed to be limited, though, and teammate Courtois has revealed that Bale recently snubbed his colleagues by preferring an early night to a team meal.

"It is very hard to describe Gareth in one word. I would say he has so much talent, but that it is such a shame that so often that talent is blocked from shining," Courtois told HLN.

"I live like somebody who is born and bred in Madrid. I eat late, I go bed late... it is their way of life. The other night we had a dinner with the entire squad. But Bale and (Toni) Kroos did not turn up. They reckoned the dinner was too late at night.

"We had arranged to be in the restaurant at 9.30pm and we started out meal around 10.15pm and by midnight we were having coffee. We go to bed at around 1am. We have to train every morning at 11am. I think that is a perfect time. But Bale had told us 'I am not coming to join you, guys. I go to bed at 11."

Bale, who has won four Champions League titles during his time at the Bernabeu, has long been linked with a return to the Premier League.