Gareth Bale 'planning to retire from football next summer'

Gareth Bale will reportedly see out the final year of his contract at Real Madrid before retiring from football.

The 31-year-old has spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 14 times and registering three assists in 33 appearances for the English club in all competitions.

Bale is not thought to be in the plans of Real Madrid, but he has a contract with the Spanish champions until next June and is said to be keen on a return to Los Blancos this summer.

According to AS, the Wales international is planning to see out the remaining year of his deal with the La Liga giants before hanging up his boots.

Bale has scored 105 goals and registered 68 assists in 251 appearances for his parent club but has a difficult relationship with Zinedine Zidane, who could stand down as Real Madrid boss this summer.

The Welshman started his professional career at Southampton in 2006 before joining Spurs, where he spent six years ahead of a switch to the Bernabeu.