Carlos Vela explains why Gareth Bale signed with LAFC
The Los Angeles Football Club ace believes that the Welshman wants to succeed in MLS and they will fight to win their first title together.
Many fans were shocked when Los Angeles Football Club announced the signing of Gareth Bale during the summer transfer window after spending nine seasons with Real Madrid and winning five UEFA Champions League titles, amongst others. The Welshman has yet to start a game but he has already notched up two goals in four appearances for a total playing time of 96 minutes.
LAFC captain Carlos Vela has praised the arrival of Gareth Bale to Major League Soccer and prior to the All-Star Game he said that the Welshman is “enjoying life.” Last weekend, Gareth Bale showed that he still has the speed which he displayed in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, when the 33-year-old scored an outstanding solo-run goal from midfield in LAFC’s 4-1 win against Real Salt Lake.
Bale is happy in Los Angeles
“He wasn’t playing the last year or two as much, so he was looking for a place where he can be happy and be himself. At LAFC we will help him to be as good as possible,” Vela told MLSsoccer.com. “He [Bale] was looking for that because for sure he will have more options to stay in Europe or go back to England or Wales.
“But he decides on Los Angeles because he wants to be happy. It’s the right place to be happy and also score some goals and hopefully win a championship. In his head, it’s something like that. It’s not all about money or being a top, top team,” added Vela.
The former Mexican international has been in Major League Soccer since 2018 and saw criticism for joining a new franchise when he could have stayed in Europe. Vela explained that simply being happy with a team and a new project has the power to improve a player’s performance on the field. He also added that Bale went through a similar situation while sitting out games with the La Liga giants.
“It’s not all about money or being a top, top team. Sometimes it’s about where I will be more happy, where my family can be happy, where I will be free to play and enjoy playing, because when you enjoy what you are doing, you do it better,” said Vela. “I’m not inside his head, but I gather that he wasn’t happy in Madrid not playing. Then he saw LA, how good you can live there, the weather, the family can enjoy it. He made a decision for his life and for his career.”