Can Cardiff pull this off?
Gareth Bale is attracting a lot of interest after announcing that he would be leaving Real Madrid this summer, and a Championship club are interested in securing his signature.
As reported by the BBC, Cardiff City are ‘stepping up their efforts’ to pull off the improbable signing of the Wales captain in the coming weeks.
The report adds that Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman has flown into the United Kingdom to lead negotiations with Bale’s camp.
Breaking news✍️ | Cardiff City are stepping up their efforts to pull off the signing of Gareth Bale.
chairman Mehmet Dalman has flown into the United Kingdom to lead negotiations [@BBCSportWales] pic.twitter.com/TtOB8WmxNb— Sloper Road Blues (@SloperBlues) June 6, 2022
The 32-year-old is available on a free transfer having left Real Madrid after nine years in Spain, during which he won 19 major honours.
Cardiff in the picture to sign Bale
A move to Major League Soccer (MLS) has been touted as a potential option for the Welshman, but it is thought that Cardiff – the city where Bale was born – are also in the picture.
Bale has never actually played club football in Wales, but the Bluebirds are viewed as a realistic option, given that the former Tottenham Hotspur man’s primary goal is to lead Wales in their first World Cup for 64 years.
While Cardiff are hopeful that Bale will make the unlikely move to the Principality Stadium, the winger’s contract demands could prove to be an issue. At Real Madrid, he earned £600,000 per week – more than the weekly wage bill of Cardiff’s first-team squad.
Despite this, Bale is thought to be open to taking a significant pay cut, and his signing would have huge marketing appeal for the Welsh club.
Bale has ‘loads’ of options
Prior to Wales’ World Cup play-off final clash against Ukraine – which Rob Page’s side won 1-0 thanks to Bale’s deflected free-kick – the former Madrid man said that he had “loads” of club options.
Of course it’s Gareth Bale (admittedly with some help from Andriy Yarmolenko) who gives Wales the lead pic.twitter.com/iPuf8bvxlT
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 5, 2022
Bale registered 106 goals and 67 assists in 258 appearances for Real Madrid during his time at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Related links:
- Gareth Bale given warm send-off during Real Madrid trophy parade
- Gareth Bale slams Marca’s “slanderous” reporting in statement
- Gareth Bale laughs at Eden Hazard after he’s told to sit on the bench despite warming up
