Real Madrid news: Gareth Bale's future to be decided after Champions League final
GARETH BALE'S Real Madrid future is in doubt, whatever happens in Kiev.
Posted Saturday, May 26, 2018 by Express.co.uk
Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in September 2013
Even if Gareth Bale equals Phil Neal’s record for the British player with the most European Cup wins here on Saturday it will not stop the speculation over his future. In fact, it will probably intensify it.
A Real Madrid victory would give Bale his fourth Champions League winner’s medal in only five seasons at the Spanish club, putting him level with Neal, the former England right back who appeared in the first four of Liverpool’s five triumphs in 1977, 78, 81 and 84.
But whether it will be Bale’s last game for Real remains the big question.
He is, by a distance, British football’s most successful export – his trophy tally at the Bernabeu reads three Champions Leagues, two FIFA World Club Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey.
Bale has always said he is happy in Spain, has four years left to run on a five-year contract signed last summer, has bought a new house in Madrid and after another injury-hit season has still managed a highly-respectable 19 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.
Gareth Bale will make history if Real Madrid beat Liverpool on Saturday
Bale has improved his chances of a starting berth on Saturday with five goals in his last four starts, including one in “El Clasico” which showed he can still produce on the big occasion.
He insists his injury problems are behind him saying: "I feel great, I am ready for the final. I think I am in fine form, physically.
"Last year we got our second Champions League in a row – and third in my four years - and now we want more.
I never imagined playing in so many finals. I have played in three and this could be a fourth win, it has blown any expectations I had out of the water."
But still the doubts remain with Bernabeu insiders saying Zinedine Zidane, rather inexplicably, is not a big fan although the Real boss was diplomatic this week when asked about Bale.
"He is playing very well, he has scored many goals recently.
Despite exit rumours, Gareth Bale captained Real Madrid against Leganes in the closing stages
"Not only that but he has been very consistent. He has not played so much, but the last three games he has played in, he has played well."
Whether that translates into a start seems unlikely. Injuries forced him to spend all but 77 minutes of last season's Champions League final against Juventus in his home-town Cardiff on the substitutes' bench.
More bench duty in the Olympiyskiy Stadium is likely to cause him to reflect with his 29th birthday approaching in July: does he want to spend what should be the ‘pomp’ years of his career as a bit-part player on the big occasions?
The emergence of a trio of Spaniards - Isco, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez – have not helped Bale’s cause for a regular starting spot, nor has his injury record.
Manchester United have wanted him every summer since he left Tottenham for Spain in 2013. Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain are keen too.
But the tipping point is looming when the numbers will no longer make sense. Real will want to recoup as much of their £86m outlay as possible and Bale will expect any of his suitors to get near or even match his reported £650,000-a-week salary.
Given his injury record and the fact there will be little or no re-sale value on him once he’s into his early 30s, it is going to take a hell of a financial punt to prise him away.
If he makes an impact tonight, either from the start or bench, it might just persuade someone to take it.
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