Bale's dilemma: Tottenham or Europe?

“One is Neymar, and the other is Gareth Bale. For marketing I think Neymar is No?1. But playing football for me, it’s Bale. He is maybe not as well known, but he’s an incredible player. He’s made to play for Real Madrid. He can do anything and like Ronaldo he can play anywhere, so he has all the qualities to play for a club like Madrid.” – The Telegraph

Gareth’s turned into a sensation that’s sweeping across Europe with stellar performances for Tottenham Hotspur, in a season which began with promise, but ended with disappointment as they couldn’t qualify for Champions League. Emerging from a very talented youth system of Southampton, Gareth Bale has taken the Premier League by storm with performances worthy of his tag of the ‘Best Player in England’. However, he now faces a dilemma.

Every player dreams of being lauded as one of the best in the world, and I’m sure Gareth’s no different. However, the question remains, will he get what he set out to achieve by staying at Tottenham? Or should he move to greener pastures? Here, we shall try to look at different scenarios and see what would suit Bale best.

Bale emerged from the shadows of a young left-back who seemed to be a bit too overambitious during his early years at Tottenham. He was too offensive and was often caught out of position during opposition counter-attacks. Harry Redknapp immediately realised the damage Bale could do if given a more advanced role, and that’s when Bale held the position of a left midfielder. This move kick-started Bale’s rise to fame. Perhaps it was on that starry night in San Siro, when Gareth scored a second half hat-trick against Inter Milan which announced him on a wider stage. He introduced himself as the one who tormented Maicon with his lung-bursting speed and had the audacity of beating Julio Cesar at his far post… THRICE!

From the way things are shaping up, Neymar vs Bale seems to be the next battle for the whole world to feast their eyes on. Bale is to Tottenham, what Ronaldo was for Manchester United during their Champions League winning season of 2007/08. But how Bale decides to write his future is purely in his hands. Ronaldo didn’t let fame get the better of him, and stayed at United for another season before eventually moving to Real Madrid.

So now that leaves Bale with three choices, each with it’s own merits and demerits. Let’s find out!

Choice 1: Stay at Tottenham, become a club legend

Merits: The option which a lot of pundits would love to see him choose. The Tottenham faithful would adore Gareth if he decides to stick with the club that brought him up to where he is. Bale could be central to AVB’s attack for many years to come. We saw for much of the last season, how influential Bale was when provided with a much central role. He certainly has matured under Andre Villas Boas, and could kick start Tottenham’s challenge for the Premier League.

Demerits: This however, seems a bit too less if Bale aims to win silverware, as Tottenham need some major financial resources, and reshuffling of the squad in order to compete for the Barclays Premier League title. For a player of Bale’s qualities, who is seen by many as a future competitor for the Ballon d’Or, Champions League football is a must. And with Tottenham failing to progress to the Champions League, Bale might be a bit hesitant to stay at White Hart Lane.

If Bale were to stay, Tottenham’s main objective would be to focus on next year’s Europa League. On winning the Europa League they would automatically gain a spot in the next Champions League campaign, irrespective of their league positioning. In doing so, they could successfully keep Gareth Bale, and give him exposure in the Champions League. But it’s sure a hard road ahead for Tottenham and Gareth Bale!

Choice 2:- Move within England

Merits: Gareth has another choice to move within England, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all willing to offer him an alternative, easier route to European football. Bale would love to play alongside Ryan Giggs, his Welsh idol, at the same time would love to triple his current wages and join in at the financially stable Manchester City. At Chelsea, his chances of playing first team football could be limited with Oscar, Mata and Hazard in company.

Demerits: Moving within England could cause a lot of unrest among Tottenham fans, and their adoration for the lad might change to hatred, given the prospect of him playing for someone else. Guilt for betraying his loyal Tottenham fans could affect his confidence and have a psychological impact on the player.

Choice 3:- There are greener pastures abroad

Merits: A move to Spain could be best for Bale, with Madrid ready to rope him in. With Neymar signing for Barcelona, Madrid seem desperate to land Gareth Bale. European exposure, high wage bracket and more recognition, everything that a footballer dreams of would be available if Bale decides to don the white jersey. Ronaldo and Bale vs Neymar and Messi would make the El Clasico a real treat to watch!

Demerits: If past instances are to be taken into consideration, many talented players who made a name for themselves in the Premier League found their new homes a little too tough to adapt into, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, Mark Hughes et al have flopped in their forays abroad. This decision of his could lead to a situation similar to ‘make or break’. If he clicks, he shall win plaudits, titles and a lot more. If he flops, it would take a lot of effort for him to regain his popularity with stellar performances.

As they say, nothing in the world is perfect, and given the complexity of the choices Bale has, it’s of no surprise that he’s taking his time in deciding where his future lies. If you were given the choices that Bale faces, what would you choose?