[Football] Gareth Bale: What a waste

[Greg Bobkin]

Off to retirement and monkey tennis in China on more money per week than a lot earn in a lifetime.

Such a shame he’ll be essentially playing meaningless friendlies.

Murray has proved you can still smash the Premier League well into your 30s.

Why effectively retire now?

Because he's won everything at club level and now wants shed loads more money?

Good for him. "Football is a short career" as people always say...

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[Geestar]

"Football is a short career" as people always say...

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So why waste it in China?

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[GT49er]

So you think Madrid would keep paying him £600k a week, and not play him regularly?

That's what ZZ is saying would happen if the can't shift him. Although, as someone else has pointed out, ZZ might well be gone before Bale's RM contract is up.

 

[Triggaaar]

That's what ZZ is saying would happen if the can't shift him.

Talk is cheap, and Zid doesn't pay the bills. I'd imagine those who do would be more pragmatic about paying off some of his contract.

 

[Bakero]

No brainer for me, football and all the Chinese you can eat!

 

[Birdie Boy]

That's food not people!

 

[GT49er]

Talk is cheap, and Zid doesn't pay the bills. I'd imagine those who do would be more pragmatic about paying off some of his contract.

If Bale sits tight and says 'I'm not going anywhere' they can't do much about it. They could offer him a lump sum of several (a lot of!) £millions to tear up the contract. That would leave him free to play anywhere. As I've said before, he's got enough money now to play wherever he wants without worrying about the wages.

I think it's been reported he's off to China anyway, so it's all a bit hypothetical now. If, as has been rumoured, he's found it difficult/hasn't tried much to learn Spanish, he's just going to love Mandarin!

 

[Stat Brother]

An antisocial heathen dullard?

Don't shoot the messenger.

 

[Triggaaar]

If Bale sits tight and says 'I'm not going anywhere' they can't do much about it. They could offer him a lump sum of several (a lot of!) £millions to tear up the contract. That would leave him free to play anywhere.

Yes exactly (although it wouldn't require him to say 'I'm not going anywhere', he could have said he'd be happy to go to a European club, but since no one could afford him, then it would mean the same thing).

As I've said before, he's got enough money now to play wherever he wants without worrying about the wages.

Agreed, but since he's already under contract to get £600k a week, it would be frustrating to lose that.

 

[Megazone]

Because he's won everything at club level and now wants shed loads more money?

But he hasn't won everything at club level.

What's he won in the Prem?

Winning trophies at Real Madrid whilst Ronaldo was there is the equivalent to not having a shot on goal away from home under Hughton. You just expect it. Hardly Chris Waddle getting Marseille to the Champs league Final or Kevin Keegan winning that Ballon d'or whatever it's called at Hamburg.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Personally, I think he’s just bottled it. He’s won loads of individual honours but most of the worthwhile ones (team) are with RM. he’s won bugger all in the Premier League and could have returned to England to fill some holes in his cabinet and proved he could win things for another team. It’s a great shame because he was a really good player to watch but I fancy he thought he couldn’t cut it in the Premier League at this stage in his life and decided to take the money ( as if it was needed!) and run to China - sooner him than me!

 

[Wardy's twin]

If mega money is his only reason to be in football then the PL clubs have done well to ignore him.

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

Shouldn't have left Tottenham.

His trophy cabinet says otherwise (it’s early here, hopefully, I am not being whooshed)

 

[BBassic]

His trophy cabinet says otherwise (it’s early here, hopefully, I am not being whooshed)

Yeah his bank balance and trophy cabinet look great but he signed for a team that had Ronaldo playing in his position. Which seems a bit dumb.

 

[DumLum]

He's won the Champions league 4 times with the biggest club in the world, anywhere he goes now is down, so why not secure his family's future forevermore? That is why we work isn't it?

It's easier to win the champions league than the premier league. How many times did he achieve that with Spurs?

 

[Hiney]

If he comes out and admits he's done it for the money then fair play.

If he comes out and says he's looking for new footballing challenges then he's a prick, and a liar.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Real gave bale a massive contract.
Im guessing China is the only place that will match that contract.
Why should he come back to the prem, accepting a pay cut?
If he did, It would be saying it’s ok for clubs to bully a player out if they’ve changed their mind about contract both parties signed.
It’s a Bit of a shame for everyone that bale won’t be playing in a competitive european league.
but fair play to play to him for standing up to to a club that’s using underhand tactics to force him out.

Also - he’s not greedy. He SIGNED A CONTRACT. That goes for every high end footballer who is earning massive amounts of money. Their wages are driven by market forces. They deserve their salaries.

 

[Megazone]

His trophy cabinet says otherwise (it’s early here, hopefully, I am not being whooshed)

Who gives a shit about his trophy cabinet?

Wes Brown's won 7 Prem titles, 2 Champions league trophies, 2 Fa cups and 3 league cups. His trophy Cabinet is arguably better than Bales.

Does that automatically mean Brown was a great player?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Why would Gareth Bale want to stay where the club are actively seeking to edge him out? And transfer fees in Europe are an over-inflated bubble just waiting to burst shirley? Makes perfect sense to go to China IMHO, especially if he's the shy bashful sort (he is WELSH after all) who shuns the limelight and doesn't mix easily with fans or teammates. Although he patently doesn't need the Chinese millions on offer, he's already shown signs of a philanthopic disposition, and all those millions could do an AWFUL lot of good if directed towards those far less fortunate than himself.

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

Yeah his bank balance and trophy cabinet look great but he signed for a team that had Ronaldo playing in his position. Which seems a bit dumb.

But he got in the team which had Ronaldo in it, got minutes and scored crucial goals. Definitely a success.

Who gives a shit about his trophy cabinet?

Wes Brown's won 7 Prem titles, 2 Champions league trophies, 2 Fa cups and 3 league cups. His trophy Cabinet is arguably better than Bales.

Does that automatically mean Brown was a great player?

Played in different positions, hard to compare.

Comparing his success at RM to the likes of Owen, McManaman and Beckham is a much fairer yard stick.

United fans must be jumping for joy at Bale leaving Madrid. This means the divisive Pogba will be his way to Madrid.