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There are few players in the world that can boast of a combination of ability and accolades that Gareth Bale possesses. The Welshman has been, by far, one of the greatest forwards over the last decade or so of European football. He was the most expensive player in the world at a point after his record-breaking move to Real Madrid.
While many talented players move to the Santiago Bernabeu and lose their way amidst a galaxy of superstars, Bale was different. The winger took to LaLiga Santander with the the utmost ease and ripped apart defences while dovetailing with Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored 105 goals and set up a further 68 in over 250 games for Los Blancos.
However, things have changed after his recurring injuries kept getting worse, and he fell out of favour under Zinedine Zidane.
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After four UEFA Champions League titles and a league title, Bale is at the periphery of Los Blancos and appears likely to depart from Madrid. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has been criticised time and again by the Spanish media and has been pushed to the exit door.
With Real Madrid seemingly keen on offloading their second-highest earner, Bale now has a decision on his hands. Where could the Welsh wizard go from Madrid? We take a look at five options for Bale to consider.
#5 Manchester United | Jadon Sancho alternative
Bale looked nailed on to join the biggest club in England, Manchester United, back when Sir Alex Ferguson was at the helm. However, the then-Spurs man took the route to Spain instead and joined Real Madrid for a world-record fee.
Since this move, the now-30-year-old winger has been continuously linked with a return to his homeland and particularly, the Red Devils. United have always dreamt of signing Bale at the peak of his abilities, but those hopes have diminished much like the Welshman's Midas touch.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now in pursuit of Jadon Sancho ahead of the 2020/21 summer transfer window. Should a move for Sancho fall through, Bale could prove to be an excellent alternative, albeit of a different nature.
A move would free him from the grasp of Real Madrid's reserves and give United a reliable attacker for the front-line. He would provide bags of experience to a young attack and could offer a massive threat from the right-hand side. However, should Sancho move to Old Trafford, a move for Bale might not be as feasible given his massive wages.
#4 Chinese Super League | Payday in a foreign land
Many renowned players have seen stints in China where they were among some of the highest earners in the world. Players such as Carlos Tevez, Oscar, Paulinho, and other stars have already made a move and have enjoyed their football in Asia.
So much so, that European clubs recruited many players after their spells in China. These include players such as Paulinho, Axel Witsel, and more recently, Odion Ighalo, who moved to Manchester United on a loan deal.
In what was an astonishing turn of events in 2019 summer, Gareth Bale was all set to move to the cash-rich shores of China. Jiangsu Suning were reportedly willing to pay Bale a ludicrous figure of £1m-a-week to play for them.
The move eventually fell through, however, with Real Madrid pulling the plug on the deal in the eleventh hour. Injuries to Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio made them rethink the move, and Real reportedly demanded a considerable transfer fee as well for Bale.
With the Cardiff-native likely to leave in the coming summer, CSL could be an option that he could consider. It could see him potentially being the highest-paid footballer in the world as he approaches the end of his career. Should he make the move, he would undoubtedly be the biggest-ever import the CSL has ever seen.
#3 Inter Milan | New challenge
There were reports last summer which claimed that Bale could go to Inter Milan as Real Madrid wanted to offload his hefty wages from their books. A majority of Inter is owned by the Suning Holdings Group, who also happen to be the owners of Jiangsu Suning. There were rumours that Bale could play for Inter via this link between both clubs.
Even if Jiangsu aren't involved, the Nerrazzuri remain a realistic possibility for Bale. Inter are being circled by Barcelona for their Argentine star Lautaro Martinez, who could make the switch to the Nou Camp. Should the move go through, it would enable them to complete a potential transfer for Bale.
The 30-year-old has not appeared in the Serie A before and could potentially welcome a new challenge after stagnating in the Spanish capital.
Inter manager Antonio Conte is eager to bring Inter back to the top of Italian football. A player of Bale's supreme ability and experience could potentially provide Conte's side with a cutting edge in attack.
He could even play a more central role and utilise his wand of a left foot from goalscoring opportunities, as opposed to cutting in from wide positions. With Romelu Lukaku stationed centrally, Bale could play off him and provide Inter's attack another dimension in their hunt for the Scudetto.
#2 Major League Soccer | New culture
The MLS remains a realistic destination for most top players as they approach the end of their careers. They have had an elite list of European football legends such as Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Steven Gerrard, and a host of others grace the league in the past.
In a similar vein, it could prove to be an ideal destination for the 30-year-old. Given his recurring injuries and age, the pace and intensity of the MLS could make in an attractive option to consider. Speaking in May about the MLS, Bale confessed;
"It's [MLS] a league that is growing and continues to develop. There are many players who want to go there now and at some point it is definitely something that would interest me. Also, I love going to Los Angeles on vacation and play golf a lot when I'm there."
There have been widespread reports of David Beckham attempting to lure the likes of Bale and James Rodriguez to his new franchise Inter Miami. It could be a clean slate for himself, and going by his words, Bale evidently appreciates the American culture. It would be a safe option taking into account several different factors.
#1 Tottenham Hotspur | Homecoming
The Bale that the world witnessed while at Tottenham Hotspur was nothing short of extraordinary. The Welshman spent six years in North London and terrified defenders of every team he faced.
The superstar left the Premier League as the best player in the land and won a host of individual awards acknowledging his breathtaking ability. He won the PFA Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and other individual honours in England.
In full-motion, Bale was simply unstoppable with the ball at his feet and driving at the opposition goal. It didn't matter to him if it was three yards out or thirty as he could slot it in from close range or tear the roof of the net with his vicious strikes.
Should he choose to return to his former club, Bale could slot in to form what could arguably be one of the best attacks in the world. He would line up alongside the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, and other talented forwards at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With Spurs reportedly keen on offloading a number of their higher earners, a move could be economically feasible as well.
It would be truly poetic if Bale moves back to London and fires his side to glory. They say there's no place like home, and for Gareth Bale, that might very well be the case.
