Gareth Bale is set to bring the curtain down on his turbulent Real Madrid career this summer when he leaves the Spanish capital for good.
His time in Madrid has been punctuated by criticism from the media and from Los Blancos supporters who viewed him as uncommitted to the cause. Relations reached their nadir during the last international break, with one journalist labelling him "a parasite", a slight Bale just could not let slide without a response.
The Wales skipper hit back with a stinging statement on his social media channels, but the negative treatment didn't end there; on Saturday, he was booed by his own fans when introduced in the second half in the 2-0 win over Getafe at the Bernabeu, leading to his team-mate Casemiro hitting back at supporters who whistled the Welshman's every touch.
Bale's contract us up this summer and it is a sad ending for a man who helped Real Madrid to four Champions League titles - scoring in two finals - and two La Ligas trophies: but who will he play for next? With a World Cup dangling in front of him, another move is on the cards, should Wales qualify.
The bookies have Cardiff City, Tottenham, AC Milan, Newcastle United, Rangers or any MLS team as favourites to sign the Welsh talisman. Here we explore the pros and cons of each club...
Cardiff City
Paddy Power - 13/8
Betfair – 13/8
Sky Bet – 3/2
Pros: Will the emotional draw of playing for his boyhood club be enough to draw Bale back to Cardiff? The bookies seem to think so. Bale’s love for Wales is plain to see and it would certainly be a fitting end to his career. He’d be the most loved man in the stadium. Bale spoke regularly with Cardiff’s manager, Steve Morison, during the recent international break and the lure of playing for the Bluebirds would surely appeal. The Championship would be less frantic than the Premier League, but that throws up its own problem.
Cons: The Championship is a rough league with lots of matches and travelling, and there’s a reason Cardiff don’t sign many players from Madrid - Bale's wages would obviously be an issue and a massive financial compromise would have to be reached.
Tottenham
Paddy Power - 5/2
Betfair – 5/2
Sky Bet – 3/2
Pros: Bale said he had a "great time" playing for Spurs last season on loan scoring 20 goals, and it was here he turned himself into a world-class attacker before signing for Madrid in 2013. Some media outlets have reported the 32-year-old has already signed an agreement to re-join the London club. Barring Madrid, Tottenham are the only club Bale follows on Instagram, and with 237 appearances, nostalgia may bring Bale back to north London where he’d be adored by fans.
Cons: Pundits question whether Bale is an Antonio Conte-type player anymore. Plagued by injuries and turning 33 this summer, would Conte reward Bale with a regular starting spot in his XI?
Where do you think Bale will end up? Join the debate in our comments section below
AC Milan
Paddy Power - 4/1
Betfair- 4/1
Sky Bet – 20/1
Pros: AC Milan are the most recent entrants in the race to sign Bale and they boast impressive credentials. Bale will be able to continue playing Champions League football with the Serie A giants who sit top of the league. Milan would also be able to partly meet his wage demands, and the club are reportedly looking to bring other Madrid outcasts like Marco Asensio and Luka Jovic to their side.
Cons: After spending nine years with one European powerhouse, Bale may have his sights on a UK return. AC Milan might not be the place for Bale to wind down his career.
Newcastle United
Paddy Power - 10/1
Betfair- 10/1
Sky Bet – 8/1
Pros: At 10/1, Newcastle are listed as one of Bale’s likely destinations thanks to their enormously wealthy owners who could afford his wages. Another draw for the Wales skipper is the chance to be part of a potential super club as the Magpies enter a new financial era; they have grand designs on building a formidable squad with their new fortunes and Bale could be their next marquee signing.
Cons: Bale is a luxury player - he may not fit into Eddie Howe’s plans to build a robust Newcastle side that press hard.
Rangers
Paddy Power - 12/1
Betfair – 12/1
Sky Bet – 16/1
Pros: A move to Rangers would potentially reunite Bale with his Wales team-mate Aaron Ramsey, who could possibly extend his stay at Ibrox. He’d certainly be an instant superstar idolised by fans in the blue half of Glasgow.
Cons: Scottish football, like the Championship, is unforgiving and with Bale's body needing to be managed, a move north of the border may not appeal too much at this stage of his career.
Any MLS Team
Paddy Power – n/a
Betfair – n/a
Sky Bet – 10/1
Pros: Bale has said before that he wants to play in America. On the International Champions Cup podcast he said: “It is definitely something that would interest me. Also, I love going to LA on vacation. I play a lot of golf when I go there." His ex-Wales teammate Jack Collison has urged him to do so, saying it would be a "match made in heaven".
Cons: The seasons aren’t aligned with European campaigns, so Bale may struggle to get games. MLS clubs would also struggle to match Bale’s wages.
Retirement?
If Wales fail to qualify for Qatar, Bale might decide to retire from club football as he doesn’t need to stay sharp for the World Cup in winter. But if they qualify, he will surely sign at least a one-year contract with someone to carry on playing and lead Wales into their first World Cup since 1958.
So... where will he go?
The million-dollar question. His future is tied to Wales' fate at present. Should Rob Page's side seal qualification, Bale will need a club, mainly in order to stay fit and sharp for the tournament he so dearly wants to play in with his beloved Wales. The bookmakers, although never fully nailed on, are usually a decent barometer of what may happen. A move to Cardiff makes sense on a number of levels - which you can read about here - but one suspects there will be a few twists and turns before we know where Gareth Bale will be playing next.
