Future unclear for Ronaldo, Bale
I need to be playing week in, week out and that has not happened. I had an injury five, six weeks in but (have been) fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent and discuss it. GARETH BALE, Madrid star
KIEV: Straight after a third successive Champions League title was secured, Cristiano Ronaldo was talking about Real Madrid in the past tense.
Real’s biggest star hinted he was unsure he’d stay with the club. Its best player in the Champions League final, Gareth Bale, looks more likely to be departing.
“In the next few days I’ll give the fans an answer because they are the ones who have always been by my side,” Ronaldo said. “It was very beautiful to be with Madrid.”
Ronaldo later said he regretted taking the attention away from Real Madrid’s triumph. Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Real’s players, especially captain Sergio Ramos, admonished the Portuguese for his sensational comments on the pitch of the NSC Olympic Stadium while his team mates celebrated.
“I spoke when I shouldn’t have done but something is going to happen. It wasn’t the right time, but I was honest,” Ronaldo told reporters before boarding the Real bus.
BALE UNSURE TOO
After soaring to score a magnificent bicycle kick for Madrid’s second goal, Bale brought his fans back down to earth with his announcement that he’ll discuss his future with his agent this summer.
The Welshman was a substitute in four of seven Champions League games this season, including his super-sub display in the final.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane responded very differently to the two players’ comments.
On Ronaldo, Zidane was clear Sunday: “He will stay with us at Real Madrid,” and predicted the Portuguese star’s tone would soon change. “Perhaps in three or four days’ time he might say something else.”
On Bale, Zidane was circumspect. “It’s a little bit of a complicated situation but everyone has their own interests, their own future to think about,” he said. Where Bale could go is less clear.
Tottenham is widely reported to have a buy-back option as part of Bale’s 2013 transfer to Real, but seems highly unlikely to be able to afford his wage bill.