Gareth Bale will finally leave Real Madrid in the summer, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed.
The 32-year-old has been at the Bernabeu since 2013 and has won 14 major honours with the club, including four Champions League's, three Club World Cups and two La Liga titles.
However, particularly in the latter stages of his Madrid career, he's developed a difficult relationship with the supporters, who've consequently called for his exit. The club have failed to get him off their wage bill, but Ancelotti has suggested that he will leave this season when his contract expires.
“Bale has had injuries, then his contract ends - he may not have had a good motivation but he wants to finish here as he deserves," said Ancelotti, as cited by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.
“It’s important for Bale to finish his career well here."
Ancelotti's words will naturally spark rumours of a potential return to Tottenham Hotspur, especially if Wales can qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
If they fail to beat Austria and then either Scotland or Ukraine in their respective playoff matchups, there have been suggestions that the Real Madrid star could retire from football altogether.
According to The Athletic, via the Daily Mail, should the Red Dragons fail to book their place in the Middle East for November, Bale, who captains his country, will actively consider hanging up his boots.
They report that the player has earned more than enough from his career to ensure any further move in the game would not need to be financially motivated.
Nevertheless, if they do win their upcoming March internationals, it's likely he will look for a club to maintain his fitness before the competition.
Bale returned to Spurs on loan last year, and performed admirably in the Premier League, scoring 11 times and providing two assists in the 20 games he played. Whether Tottenham would consider re-signing him - especially under Antonio Conte who is trying to rebuild the club - is another question, but it's not something that should be ruled out entirely.
