Bale's Real Madrid return not so clear-cut, says agent Barnett
Jonathan Barnett has insisted that Bale's comments about his return to Real Madrid for next season were taken "completely out of context".
Earlier this week Gareth Bale stated that he intends to return to Real Madrid at the end of the season after a year-long loan spell at Spurs.
Following his comments, assumptions were that Bale’s intentions were clear. But according to his agent, Jonathan Barnett, the Welshman’s immediate future is not so clear-cut.
Speaking to ESPN, Barnett claimed that the player's words were “taken completely out of context”, insisting that it is still “too early” to make assumptions about his future.
Bale’s comments on Real Madrid return
As the Welshman explained during a press conference ahead of Wales' World Cup qualifier against Belgium: “The main reason why I came to Spurs this year was obviously, I wanted to play football first and foremost, but going into the Euros, I wanted to be match fit.”
“The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros still have a year left at Real Madrid - my plan is to go back, that's as far as I have planned,” he added.
Bale, who is currently on a one-season-long loan deal at Tottenham in which Madrid is still paying €15 million of his €30 million annual salary, has a contract at the Bernabéu until June 2022.
Should Bale return to Madrid with Zinedine Zidane still on the coach’s bench, the Welsh forward would likely have a difficult time finding a place in the French coach’s starting line-up, as was the case before he left the club at the start of the season.
Real Madrid eager to offload Bale before next season
Despite the Welshman’s comments, Barnett is aware it would be wise for him to keep his options open – one of which could be the MLS. As such, his future remains up in the air.
For Madrid’s part, the club is eager to offload the player before the start of next season in order to avoid paying out his €30 million salary during his final year.
Adding to that €30 million, the €30 million that Eden Hazard charges per season and it’s €60 million wasted. With large operations ahead like those involving Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, the club desperately needs to reduce its current €448 million total salary bill.