Transfer Centre

Gareth Bale 'wants one last year at Real Madrid'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2020

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, who is currently back at Tottenham Hotspur on loan, reportedly wants one final farewell season at the Bernabeu before his contract expires.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is reportedly keen to see out one final season with Los Blancos - with or without Zinedine Zidane at the helm.

The 31-year-old's struggles under the Frenchman are well-documented, leading to Bale securing a temporary return to Spurs in the most recent transfer window.

The attacker has been used sparingly by Jose Mourinho in the Premier League, but Bale has started all six of Spurs' Europa League matches and boasts two goals in all competitions for the Lilywhites.

Bale will see his Bernabeu deal run out in 18 months' time, though, and AS reports that the Wales international wants to end his turbulent Real career on a high note with one final season in the Spanish capital.

The report claims that Bale is willing to pull on the Blancos jersey even if Zidane keeps his job beyond the summer, but the attacker's mammoth wages could prove to be a stumbling block for Real Madrid, who have been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Spurs could yet decide to keep Bale on the books for another season, but he would supposedly have to start regularly and register goal contributions on a consistent basis for Daniel Levy to sanction a second loan spell.