Gareth Bale intends to return to Real Madrid at end of season

"My plan is to go back, that's as far I have planned."

Gareth Bale has confirmed his intention to return to Real Madrid at the end of the season. The 31-year-old joined Tottenham on loan at the start of the campaign, seven years after leaving for Spain. With his contract in Madrid set to run until the end of next season, Bale's future had seemed unclear with his loan deal at Spurs expiring in summer. Speaking ahead of his country's World Cup qualifier with Belgium, Bale put the speculation over his future to one side: "There's no distraction for me. I think the main reason I came to Spurs this year was to play football first and foremost. "Going into the Euros I wanted to be match-fit. The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros still have a year left at Real Madrid. "My plan is to go back, that's as far I have planned." Having putt in several below par performances earlier in the season, Bale's form has improved of late with the Welshman chipping in with six goals in his last nine appearances for Spurs. He was, however, unable to prevent Dinamo Zagreb bringing their European Tour to a premature end after a rough night in Croatia last week. With a fair way still to go in the current campaign, he will at least hope to help carry his club to their first major title win since 2007, when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Bale will hope to follow through on his intention to return to Madrid, but this will fade if Zinedine Zidane stays on as manager beyond the end of the current season. The Frenchie is said to no longer be a fan of the 31-year-old, and Bale could struggle to make the cut in Real's squad if he does remain. There. That's enough golf puns for one day. Sorry.