Gareth Bale transfer: Real Madrid shockingly call off China deal despite Zinedine Zidane saying earlier that the club was working on his exit.
The Gareth Bale transfer saga continues. It was an open secret that the Welsh winger had no place in Zinedine Zidane’s plans for Real going forward. That didn’t seem to affect Bale though. He angered many when he claimed that he was willing to sit out his contract instead of leaving the club.
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Bale was not played in the pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. Zidane then raised storm in the media when he claimed that he was not played because the side was working on his exit. He then added that it would be better if he left the next day itself.
His comments were met with criticism from several quarters with the worst coming from Bale’s manager who called him a disgrace. Zidane tried to quell matter by saying he had no personal vendetta against Bale and it was the club who wanted him out not Zidane personally claiming that Bale himself chose not to play against Bayern.
Out or not?
Bale then played the game against Arsenal as a substitute and scored the opening goal but did not celebrate. He did seem to laugh and smile a lot in the next game against Atletico, which wouldn’t have been too bad if Real Madrid had not lost the match 7-3.
Bale was on his way out and Zidane seemed to have finally gotten his way when China came calling. Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning had put in an offer for Real Madrid outcast Gareth Bale wherein the Welshman would earn around £1m-per-week. It seemed like Bale had made his choice to move away from the Spanish Capital. Even though he was originally looking to a premier league return; The money was too tempting for the Wales international to turn down. Especially considering he is nearer to the end of his career than his beginning.
Still a Galactico
However, it looks as if his love hate story with Real Madrid is far from over. The saga continues and there are more chapters to unfold. In what will come as a surprise to most, Real Madrid have called off Bale’s move to China.
BBC Sport journalist David Ornstein has reported that Bale’s move to China is no more and he is still a Real Madrid player. He added that it was the Los Blancos who decided to retain the Welshman.
Exclusive: Gareth Bale’s proposed move to China is OFF. As things stand, he will be staying at Real Madrid #RMFC
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) July 28, 2019
Understood Real Madrid called the deal off #RMFC
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) July 28, 2019
The answer as to why the move was called off is not clear. Maybe the lack of a transfer fee stung, Real president Florentino Perez. Maybe all the injuries the team has to deal with recently. Perhaps the disastrous form the team has shown in the pre-season, especially the match against Atletico. Or perhaps a combination of all of them.
If Zidane and Bale can somehow put their differences aside though, this moment could be a game changer for Real Madrid’s entire season; which in all honesty, seemed to be heading towards another disaster. Bale has now been given another chance to salvage his legacy in the Spanish Capital. It is now up to him and what he makes of it.
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