Gareth Bale’s agent says Real Madrid star is “going nowhere” – in January or the summer
Gareth Bale’s agent has insisted that the Real Madrid forward is “going nowhere” this month and is likely to stay at the club next season.
The Wales international has had a turbulent six months since coming close to leaving the Bernabeu for China last summer.
Real pulled the plug on Bale’s lucrative switch to Jiangsu Suning in July, despite the admission of coach Zinedine Zidane that his departure would be “best for everyone”.
He has since been linked with a move to Major League Soccer, but Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett told ESPN that the 30-year-old is “going nowhere” in January.
Barnett added that Bale is “very unlikely” to leave Madrid over the summer either.
The former Tottenham star, who has won four Champions League titles in Madrid, has a contract until 2022.
His high salary and Real’s eagerness to earn a hefty transfer fee have limited the potential clubs who could finance a bid for the forward.
Bale’s relationship with the Merengues fans took a hit earlier this season after he was pictured celebrating Wales’ qualification for Euro 2020 with a flag bearing the message: “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.”
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
He has started just three games for the club since then, and was left out of the squad that travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Supercopa due to an infection.
In total, Bale has scored twice in 14 appearances for Zidane’s side this season.
NOW READ...
ANALYSIS Jose Mourinho must make Tottenham worth watching – something he still hasn't managed
QUIZ! Can you name the top three African Player of the Year finishers for the last 20 years?
Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.
'People will remember us because we got to No.1 in the world rankings and achieved great things - but our biggest regret is that we didn’t win anything': Ex-Everton star Kevin Mirallas opens up on 'honour' of being part of nation's golden generation
‘I’m sure we’d have finished in the top four or five if he hadn’t joined Chelsea in January. Him leaving damaged the team, but we couldn’t stand in his way’: Alan Curbishley reflects on failed Champions League dream after selling key player