Real Madrid: Gareth Bale tells Florentino he wants to stay
The Welshman is determined to turn things around at the Bernabéu and has made it known through his agent that he would like to see out his contract.
Gareth Bale has no intention of leaving Real Madrid this summer, he has informed the club through his agent, and intends to see out his contract at the Bernabéu, which runs until June 2022.
Bale last signed a contract extension at the club in 2016 and has been under increased scrutiny at the club over the past couple of season as injury and a lack of form have taken their toll on his performances and his relationship with the fans and some of his teammates.
However, Bale remains determined to turn things around at Madrid, a club who it is sometimes too swiftly forgotten he has helped to three Champions League titles, a Liga triumph and a Copa del Rey, with decisive interventions in three finals in both knock-out competitions.
Bale agent: "He is very happy at Real Madrid"
Earlier in April, the Welshman’s representative, Jonathan Barnett, met Madrid general director José Ángel Sánchez and was told that the club would not stand in the way of Bale if he wanted to leave and would even hand the forward a say in his destination. After that meeting, Barnett told Spanish broadcaster Deportes Cuatro that his client “is very happy at Real Madrid.”
That echoed the agent’s quotes to this newspaper in March, when he said that Bale “will be at Real Madrid as long as they want him.”
Whether Real decide to retain Bale’s services or not remains to be seen. Earlier this year Bale stated that he and Zidane “we’re not exactly the best of friends,” shortly before the Frenchman returned to the Bernabéu fold. The 29-year-old was also non-committal on his future after the Champions League final last year, while Zidane has been ambiguous on the forward’s future.
Real could look to sell, with Bale likely to fetch a fee in the region of the slightly over 100 million euros he was bought for in 2013, while the club would also free up 15 million euros a year in wages. The Bernabéu board have ruled out a loan, as was the case when James Rodríguez found himself in a similar situation under Zidane.
The Welshman has endured a difficult season at Madrid and has regularly been jeered by the Bernabéu, despite being the side’s second highest scorer behind Karim Benzema. Since Zidane took over again, Bale has started three Liga games but been on the bench for another three, getting just nine minutes in the Leganés draw and 20 last weekend against Athletic.