Real Madrid will have to lower Gareth Bale asking price considerably
It’s no secret that Real Madrid want to find a way to offload Gareth Bale this summer after making an upgrade on the wings by signing Eden Hazard, but their current asking price is grossly inflated.
Start at an insane asking price and lower it from there. That appears to be Real Madrid’s strategy with Gareth Bale this summer, as it’s no wonder why the superstar forward has received no real interest this transfer window despite being one of the biggest names in world football.
Thanks to his poor form in 2018-2019 and bloated wages, Bale is no longer one of splashiest transfer targets on the market. But Bale still has world-class talent, and, maybe most importantly, a proven track record of winning titles.
According to ESPN FC, Real are asking for bids of at least 80 million euros for the out-of-favor attacker, who seems to have no real standing with returning manager Zinedine Zidane.
Although Bale still wants to stay in Spain’s capital and compete for a role under Zidane, it seems like that ship has sailed. That said, if Real don’t considerably reduce that 80 million euro asking price, then they may have no choice but to see what Bale can do as an injury-prone 30-year-old at one of football’s most difficult positions.
Bale has been linked to a few notable clubs in transfer rumors this summer, but neither Bayern Munich nor Manchester United seem all that interested in even a two-year loan deal. A reunion with Tottenham may be the Welsh star’s best option, but they simply cannot afford to pay him 15 million euros per season. In all honesty, no team “can,” especially since the word “can” is synonymous with “want” when it comes to paying player wages.
Real would almost certainly have to eat into Bale’s wages in order to sell him, or they’d simply have to accept a discounted price for Bale. Because when discussing a potential transfer for the former top-five player, any prospective team has to understand that they will be paying both a transfer fee and a significant amount of wages. Those wages will have to be subtracted from Real’s asking price, otherwise Bale becomes an even more onerous financial burden.
Again, Bale still has a copious amount of talent. His technique, finishing qualities, and vision haven’t deteriorated with age and injuries, and he’s still a strong and explosive athlete. Few wingers can match his blend of pure speed and strength when he’s at his best, but after watching Bale struggle last season, there is a glaring “buyer beware” tag on him.
At 80 million euros, a team would have to be insane to sign him, and there is no board with the funds to acquire Bale that would be that insane. It’s also debatable if he’s better than younger wingers on the market, such as Everton Soares or Hakim Ziyech, who could be signed for a fraction of the price.
Bale and Real Madrid have long seemed destined for a split in 2019, but unless Real cut that 80 million euro figure by at least one-half, then the 30-year-old Tottenham legend will have to spend one more season fighting for a spot in Zidane’s rotation.