At the height of the summer with its glut of so-called transfer sagas, you would do well to find a player whose next move has fueled speculation for as long as Gareth Bale.
The Wales captain spent nine trophy-filled years at Real Madrid, but about half of that time was in the context of perpetual guesswork about his future.
Even scoring one of the best goals in Champions League history didn’t stem the tides of gossip. Moments after his impressive overhead kick helped Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, he said in an on-field interview that he would speak to his agent to discuss his options.
It was a complicated relationship, Bale and Madrid. There were five Champions League winners’ medals, three La Liga titles and over 100 goals for the 32-year-old, but injuries and inconsistent form, and subsequent reaction from fans and the Spanish media, gradually pushed to Bale to the periphery.
With his £600,000-a-week contract due to expire at the end of this month, there was no doubt Bale would be leaving Madrid. The only question mark referred to his next destination.
He was linked with a return to Tottenham and, as unlikely as it sounded, his representatives did. hold talks with Championship side Cardiffhis hometown club.
Bale’s agent warned at the time that they were still negotiating with “many other clubs” and, with a move to the United States being a long-standing option, he ultimately chose Los Angeles FC.
Now that the epic decision-making process is over, Bale can look forward to the next, and possibly the last, chapter of his glittering club career.
Why Bale chose LAFC
Moving to Los Angeles has obvious draws, from the Californian lifestyle to the financial rewards of joining an LAFC team that soars to the top of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
Bale has publicly stated that he enjoys spending time on the West Coast of the United States, having played there in pre-season competitions and returning on vacation with his family.
And while the Welsh striker and his representatives have received offers from all over the world (he came close to joining Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning in 2019), MLS has long been touted as an ideal destination for the final years of his club career. .
Bale may no longer be the explosive winger who cost Real Madrid a world-record fee of £85m in 2013 and then terrified defenses across Europe with his blistering speed, but he is still capable of producing match-winning moments. when they matter. the majority.
He showed it when he scored two spectacular goals in Wales’s World Cup play-off semi-final victory over Austria in March, before following up with the free kick that led to the only goal in their momentous final victory against Ukraine earlier this month.
Bale did it despite the fact that he barely played for Real Madrid; he had played just 20 minutes for the Spanish and European champions in the three months between those two Wales games.
That lack of consistent action at club level is something Bale will want to correct at LAFC, where he can expect a more prominent role than he did at the end of his time in Spain.
Bale makes no secret or apologies about the most important reason for his desire to play regularly: to be fit for Wales’ first World Cup since 1958.
Nothing means more to him than representing your country and, having achieved all he could with Real Madrid and leading Wales to back-to-back European championships, Bale had targeted a World Cup as his greatest remaining ambition.
Wales’ 64-year wait will end when they face the United States in their World Cup opener on November 21, so until then, the tournament in Qatar will influence everything Bale does.
That’s why LAFC is a good fit. The MLS regular season runs from February to October, followed by the MLS Cup play-offs and final on November 5.
With LAFC sitting at the top of their conference, they are well placed to reach that final and offer Bale a series of games before the World Cup, with the benefit of a brief rest period before the USA encounter. .
If Bale arrives in Qatar in optimal physical condition, the move to Los Angeles will have been worth it.
Bale’s future beyond the World Cup
The World Cup looms so significant for Bale that there is a risk of forgetting about his future beyond Qatar.
There was speculation that he would have retired had Wales failed to qualify, while Bale himself did not rule out the possibility of retirement after last year’s delayed Euro 2020.
It’s a subject Welsh fans don’t want to face; the conclusion of Bale’s career would mark the end of an era for Welsh football.
It has been the icon of the golden generation of Wales. From an all-time low of 117th in the world rankings 11 years ago to a historic run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and now qualifying for a third major tournament out of four, Wales have become a transformed footballing nation with Bale as their main star. .
The World Cup may seem like a natural final act for Bale given all the talk of retirement, but he has signed a one-year deal with LAFC, with potential for an extension.
That would raise the possibility of Bale sticking around until Euro 2024, a tempting prospect for Wales and not unrealistic considering he will be 34 when the tournament begins in Germany.
For now, that can wait. Bale and Wales have a World Cup to consider first, and LAFC can expect a generational talent to join their ranks for the rest of this season.
The first match Bale will be able to play in will be next month’s Los Angeles derby against the LA Galaxy, once the MLS transfer window opens on July 7.
The man who once lit up El Clásico could be about to do the same with El Tráfico.
Reference-www.bbc.com