Robbie Walls
Real Madrid are reportedly set to offload Gareth Bale for just £22m this summer, putting an end to the Welshman’s turbulent spell in the Spanish capital.
The 31-year-old is seemingly surplus to requirements at Los Blancos, with manager Zinedine Zidane favouring the likes of Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr since his return to the dugout in 2019.
As for Bale, the Wales international enjoyed a dream beginning to his Madrid career, winning both the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey in his debut campaign for the club, before going on to lift three more European titles.
However, despite those glories and his 105 goals for the club, it all appears to have gone sour – with Bale playing a periphery role as his side surged to the La Liga title last season.
Having been denied a move to China last summer, Bale is again looking likely for an exit, the Daily Mail reporting that Madrid are set to let the former Tottenham Hotspur man go for just £22m – just a quarter of what the club initially paid for him back in 2013.
The player currently has two years remaining on his current contract, yet the toxic relationship between both Bale and the club mean the reduced transfer fee is potentially the best option for all parties – with Madrid unwilling to pay out the remainder of his contract.
Despite the minimal transfer fee, any interested club would still be stuck with the issue of matching Bale’s whopping £600,000-a-week wage – a factor that could well put off any interested clubs from the Premier League.
The former Southampton man has been linked with a move to Manchester United throughout his career and the Red Devils remain one of few clubs able to afford the Welshman, although a signing like Bale no longer fits with the clubs transfer strategy and Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho remains there number one target.
There has also been talk of a potential return to former club Spurs this summer, but that seems fanciful, with his former club unlikely to able to afford his wages.
Read – Remembering just how phenomenal Gareth Bale was during the 2012/13 Premier League season
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