Gareth Bale is reportedly set to be offered a new contract by Real Madrid amid interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.
According to a report from Daily Mail, European champions Real Madrid are apparently planning to offer Gareth Bale a contract extension in an attempt to wave away potential suitors. The Welshman has been a subject of some serious interest from several top clubs around Europe, following a rough couple of seasons at the Bernabeu.
Since joining the Spanish giants back in 2013, for a massive fee of €101m, Gareth Bale has endured a topsy-turvy career in Spain. Often being deemed as a failed acquisition, Bale’s stint at Real Madrid has been marred by a series of injuries. And up until last week, the former Spurs superstar was almost destined to leave the club this summer, after failing to get regular game-time under Zinedine Zidane.
Bale himself showed his frustration following Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Liverpool. “Obviously I was very disappointed not to start the game, I felt I deserved it but the manager makes the decisions,” Bale told BT Sport. As it turned out at the end, the 28-year-old scored an important brace to help his team win their third consecutive Champions League titles.
Manchester United, who were interested in the services of the former Spurs attacker, were told not to blow away their transfer budget on Gareth Bale by head coach Jose Mourinho. However, his recent exploits in the Champions League have forced them to rekindle their interest in the 28-year-old, with Chelsea also making some noise.
This week, however, Zinedine Zidane’s shock resignation has been a huge blow for Real Madrid fans and club officials alike as it sent shockwaves around the football world. But at the same time, it might prove to be a boon for Gareth Bale, whose future at the Bernabeu has already taken a massive U-turn following Zidane’s exit.
Real Madrid’s decision to extend Gareth Bale’s contract might actually be a smart decision, considering the fact that the Welshman has done significantly well when he has been given the chance. Despite being frozen out of the starting XI more often than not, Bale has still managed to score 16 goals in just 26 appearances this season, a tally only bettered by the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo.
Furthermore, Zidane’s exit has left Cristiano Ronaldo completely devastated. Hence, no assurances can be made regarding his future at Real Madrid, leaving their attacking department completely shallow.
In addition, Gareth Bale is one of two natural wide players available for Los Blancos alongside Lucas Vazquez. And we have already seen Madrid’s gradual decrease in chances created from high turnovers due to the lack of any natural wide players this season, meaning they simply can’t afford to lose the Welsh attacking sensation at the moment.
Gareth Bale’s current contract with Los Blancos expires in 2022, meaning a new contract extension will definitely seal his long-term future at the Bernabeu and for good reasons.
