Gareth Bale has only just returned to Tottenham after seven years at Real Madrid and agent Jonathan Barnett is already tipping his client to stay in North London beyond his 12-month loan move.
Bale has two years remaining on his deal with Real, but it’s hard to see him turning out for Los Blancos again, so could he end playing his career at Tottenham instead?
One of the many criticisms levelled at Bale was an unwillingness to integrate himself in Madrid, Spain. The 31-year-old often refused to go out to dinner with teammates, didn’t learn much of the Spanish language and didn’t have a good relationship with supporters.
As noted by SportBible, Bale also said he loved playing golf more than he did playing for Los Blancos with the infamous ‘Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that Order’ which didn’t go down well in the Spanish capital. He’s loved universally back in England, will have his friends and family much closer to him and won’t have a language barrier, so it’s not surprising Bale is considering staying here for good.
In 2014, Bale told the Telegraph that he could return to Tottenham when his playing days at Madrid are over. He said: “Tottenham will always have a place in my heart. I love Spurs fans. I could come back one day.” The Welsh international also described Tottenham as “somewhere I felt so comfortable and so happy”, so it means more to be with Spurs than elsewhere in England.
Six years later, he kept to his word and looks happier than he’s been for a long time. Barnett said this summer that Bale turned down bigger clubs than Tottenham to return to North London. His relationship with us was the clincher, so there’s no reason why he wouldn’t want to stay. Here’s hoping Bale can have a productive and injury-free campaign.
I was adamant Bale would never return to Tottenham, but I’m not ruling out the prospect of him ending his career in North London now. It’s clear he loves the club and its supporters more than he does playing at the highest possible level, and we have the season to hash out a deal with Real, so anything is possible.
In other news, Tottenham could agree a deal with Benfica for Haris Seferovic