It's almost four months since Gareth Bale revealed he would sign for MLS side Los Angeles FC.
The Wales forward had a number of suitors, including Cardiff City, who wanted his services this season, but ultimately he opted for a move across the pond and a new life in California.
But how has he actually got on since moving to LA? We take a deeper dive into his move to the Banc of California Stadium just four weeks out from the start of the World Cup.
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Minutes played
Bale has played just 374 minutes out of a possible 1,530 in all competitions since his move to LA – hardly the numbers many were expecting given how much of a coup it seemed to be for MLS when he signed.
For context, only nine LAFC players who have actually played this season have fewer minutes under their belts than Bale. It puts him 21st on the list of total minutes played, if we were to rank the squad from most to fewest.
However, if we were to compare that to last season's numbers, Bale has already played more minutes for LAFC this season than he did for Real Madrid last term. He played just 290 minutes in all competitions for Los Blancos in his final year there.
So, every cloud and all that...
The wonder goal
The frustrating thing at the minute is that Bale's LAFC career got off to a flyer. He scored his first goal, against Sporting Kansas City, at the end of July to open his account, tucking away a lovely strike from the edge of the area which cushioned into the bottom corner, before he rolled back the years a couple of weeks later.
He produced a vintage Bale goal against Real Salt Lake, rolling back the years as he did so. He picked up the ball 40 yards out from goal and burst down the wing, rounding a sprawling defender in the process.
He then cut inside the box and rifled it past the Salt Lake goalkeeper as LAFC hammered their opposition 4-1. It was the sort of goal LAFC fans would have expected to see on a regular basis, but it has been an outlier thus far.
We've included a video of the goal below just for good measure.
The criticism
There has been some negativity since that wonder goal, though, the height of which probably came at the end of August, after his first start in a goal LAFC lost 4-1.
Bale was accused of being '"way off the pace" and "not caring" by pundits after a sluggish outing against Austin FC saw the game largely pass him by.
The Welshman was taken off after 60 minutes with his side 4-0 down. The game finished 4-1 and Bale had just two shots and completed 80 percent of his passes while on the pitch.
ESPN co-commentator Stewart Robson was scathing in his assessment, saying the decision to start Bale had "backfired".
He added: “He just didn’t work hard enough. He was way off the pace and couldn’t affect the game at all. He looked like he had a real lack of energy, which will be a worry going forward."
Former England international Alan Hinton, who forged a successful career as a player and coach in the US, weighed in, saying: "Watching LAFC and Gareth Bale starts for first time since he arrived in LA. He will not want to know until Wales are out of World Cup. Lots of talent but strange at times, just be a player I say.
"Bale subbed after a nightmare. He hardly touched the ball. I suspect he does not care. Players control the game today, that’s good and bad."
What has he said?
The all-important question for many is, how has he viewed the move? After such a disappointing end to his glittering Real Madrid career, it seemed like he needed a shot in the arm.
The sad ending to his time in the Spanish capital manifested itself in Bale feeling unwanted or cast aside, hardly befitting a player who brought so much silverware to the club. But the 33-year-old has been reinvigorated by his switch to the US.
When on Wales duty last month, he was asked if he feels wanted again and replied: "Definitely. It feels nice, the fans have been really supportive over there, they've been really patient as well which is good. I'm enjoying playing there, the atmosphere is incredible, they're all supporting the team.
"I can't ask for any more than that. They've made me feel at home straight away. So it's good vibes from the MLS and hopefully that gives me more confidence going into Wales as well.
"The family are now settled in which is a big part. I'm getting stronger and fitter. Now we have an important stretch of games in the MLS, but after that I can turn my attention to the World Cup and hopefully be in the best shape I possibly can."
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