Real Madrid put a price on Bale: 130 million euros
Florentino Pérez has set out his opening bargaining stance for the Welshman, although the Spanish giants could accept a trade for players such as Eriksen or Pogba.
Real Madrid have decided it's time to sell Gareth Bale and are looking to move the Welshman on this coming summer, with the idea of bringing in a serious chunk of cash in order to help with the signings the club know they need to make. A priority at the Bernabéu therefore is to ensure Bale is sold for as much as possible and club bosses already know the price they are going to demand when starting any negotiations with a possible buyer: 130 million euros.
Real Madrid know it's a big amount to ask for Bale
It's a big price for the Welsh froward, but Real Madrid feel it's fair in today's market, taking into account the prices paid for Neymar (€222M), Mbappé (€180M), Coutinho (€160M) and Dembélé (€120M). What's more, Real Madrid are convinced that English clubs would be willing to splash out for the player who was a success at Southampton and Tottenham before his move to Spain.
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Bale could be swapped
Real Madrid however are all too aware that even if negotiations start at 130 million euros, it's likely they'll have to accept a lower amount to seal the move. The club knows that Bale's salary is a problem. He's on 15 million net a year, which is around 30 million total cost including his tax (the precise figure would depend on which country he moves to) and Real Madrid believe that only four or five clubs could actually meet his demands.
Madrid would therefore be happy to discuss swap option to move Bale on, and Pogba seems to be the best fit. Zidane would love to bring in his fellow Frenchman and United have always been keen on Bale. A straight swap, with Real Madrid paying a small amount on top, would apparently be a highly possible option. But it's not the only alternative. Real Madrid are also keen on Eriksen and Bale would be happy to go back to Tottenham...
Bale at Real Madrid: 227 games and 102 goals
Bale arrived at Real Madrid on the last day of August 2013 in exchange for 103 million euros, at that time the highest price ever paid for a footballer. He's won 14 titles in his time at the club: four Champions Leagues, a League, a Copa del Rey, a Spanish Super Cup, three European Super Cups and four Club World Cups, and played important roles in several finals, such as Valencia 2014, Lisbon 2014 and Kiev 2018 (that overhead kick). But he's also been hard hit by injuries which have hampered his career at the Spanish giants. In total he's suffered 22 different injuries which have prevented him hitting the performance levels expected of him, leading the fans at the Bernabéu to criticise him vociferously. His agent Jonathan Barnett attacked the Madrid fans for their attitude, but still says the player has no desire to leave. The truth is though that Bale knows he's got a 'For Sale' sign above his head.