Short of putting him on eBay on behalf of Real Madrid, there’s not a lot more the Spanish sport media could do to make it clear they’ve reached a consensus that Gareth Bale needs to go.
For a long time there’s been an assumption that a move to the Premier League, and namely Manchester United, could bring in €100m.
Marca mentioned interest in their Friday edition, but that also felt more of an assumption than genuine information.
El Confidencial has an article today which sets out the Welshman’s situation. And they point out that in the corridors of power at Real Madrid it’s known that Manchester United are ‘more interested’ in Raphael Varane and his teammate Toni Kroos.
Interest in Bale has dropped and he’s simply not considered a priority any longer.
The former Tottenham player is said to have made Real Madrid aware that he plans to see out his contract, which lasts until 2022 and makes him the club’s highest paid player. Bale and his family have ‘no intention’ of leaving Madrid ‘where they enjoy a comfortable life away from the pressure of the English tabloids’.
Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane is said to have been clear with both his player and Florentino Perez that Bale isn’t in his plans for next season. Perez had been the 29 year old’s biggest defender, but it’s said even he has now ‘thrown in the towel’.
It’s stated they need to find a way to ‘tell the golfer to pick up his clubs and leave Real Madrid’. Bale’s hobby seems to really irritate the Spanish media.
Chelsea have a transfer ban, Tottenham won’t pay anything like that kind of fee for anyone, and Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo.
With Manchester United now being edged away from the story by El Confidencial, it presents a big problem for Perez to solve.
Back to Varane.
El Confidencial has another article today, this one all about the defender’s situation.
It’s explained he feels he’s gone stagnant at Real Madrid and a move could be good for his career. He decided this before Zidane returned to the club, and is now somewhat torn over what to do.
The Spanish club’s plan is for their manager to convince his compatriot that he’s best staying where he is, and to achieve that a pay rise may be possible.
On Manchester United, it’s stated the club offered €100m last summer, but Perez ‘didn’t flinch’. They don’t want to sell, and it’s out of the question that someone pays the €500m buyout clause.
That said, there’s clearly still some doubt around the player and what happens next.
Real Madrid’s ideal scenario would be Ed Woodward taking that €100m and offering it for Bale, but that isn’t likely to happen.
