The Gareth Bale Situation

Real Madrid right winger Gareth Bale has been lighting up soccer news headlines for the past few weeks as speculation continues on which club he will be with come August. Bale, 29, has been involved in Madrid’s dominance in the Champions League from 2013-2018, where he won four Champions League titles, one La Liga title, three UEFA Super Cups, three FIFA Club World Cups, one Copa Del Rey, and one Spanish Suercopa. Yet, the Madrid front office and manager Zinedine Zidane want to offload Bale after a dismal 2018-19 season. He no longer fits the style of play despite all the efforts he gave to secure Madrid these trophies. Bale has been notoriously injury-prone the last few seasons. It shouldn’t be surprising that Zidane sees the winger as deadweight. He doesn’t want a player that makes £480,000 per week always being out and not contributing in crucial moments. Now it has become a game of Player vs. Manager; Bale has made it clear he will not leave Madrid. Yet he may not have a choice with Eden Hazard on the way.

Bale presents an interesting dynamic in the Madrid philosophy in the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era. When the Portuguese forward departed for Juventus, last summer, there was a hole that wasn't filled by Real Madrid. The role of a primary attacking threat was supposed to be passed down to Bale, but he failed to meet the expectations of the club and fans. To be fair to Bale, other players like Isco, Marco Asensio, and Lucas Vasquez all performed poorly this season. Yet the Welshman shouldered the blame because he was the man who hit the bicycle kick to secure the 2018 Champions League for Madrid, their fourth title in four seasons. It is hard for a club that has won so much to regress one season later, even after the departure of Ronaldo. The Gareth Bale situation is not so much about Bale as a player; it is more about Real's mission statement.

Losing to Ajax in this year's Champions League quarterfinal was a wake-up call for Los Blancos. They realized their squad was no longer the wrecking force it once was, in Spain and in Europe. Without Ronaldo to help secure clutch wins and snag points, we saw Real concede goals early. Much of that can be chopped down to Thibaut Cortouis's poor form but there were games when Madrid would be shut out entirely. Of course the blame went to Bale, the man tasked to fill the hole left by Ronaldo. When he couldn't step up or when he wasn't injured, the task fell to younger players like Vinciuis Jr and Asensio. That's when it became clear the Spanish giants needed to start their youth movement while also securing world class talent. Bale's lack of use and lack of trust by managers shows that he is not right for Madrid anymore.

Bale doesn't want to leave a club like Madrid because it would take away from his legacy. He has been part of four Champions League-winning teams. Returning to the Premier League to a club like Manchester United would be seen as a downgrade by the Welsh winger. Bale might like being part of Real Madrid, but they are moving on from the Ronaldo era. It has shut its door, so it is now time for a new one. Unfortunately for Bale, he isn't seen as a part of it. In my opinion, Bale would be better seeking greener pastures. He should be happy that he got to be a part of Madrid's dominance in the Champions League, but with Hazard, Luka Jovic, and potentially Christian Eriksen coming in, Bale's time in Spain might be over. His wage is hefty, so it is up to him and his agent to make a deal that is beneficial for both him and the club.

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