Bale can become Britain’s best ever football export.. why would he quit Madrid?
OF all the potential storylines on Saturday night, a remarkable one involves a player who many thought would not last two minutes in Spain.
A shy, homely sort without a superstar gene in his DNA.
A player, it seems, who, every other month, is supposed to be coming back to the Premier League.
In Kiev this weekend, Gareth Bale (right) could get his hands on a European Cup, because that is what it remains, for a FOURTH time.
And some believe he would be better off out of Madrid.
It happens every time. Every time he goes through a spell when he is not guaranteed a Real Madrid starting place, the suggestion surfaces that he should return to England. It is almost insulting. If Real want to ship him out, fine, but how many times does Bale have to show he has the backbone for a fight, that he has a talent that will, at some time or other, prove irresistible to a coach?
Despite excellent recent form, he might not start against Liverpool, but you can bet he will play a part.
He came on as a 77thminute substitute against Juventus in last year’s final, but started and scored in the penalty shootout when Real defeated Atletico Madrid in 2016 and started and put his team ahead in their win over the same rivals in 2014.
Speak to Bale and he will tell you the fundamental reason he joined Real was to find out what it feels like to be a European champion. To do it three times is outstanding. Bear this in mind, only three other Brits have won the European Cup immense. Not to mention the with a foreign club. challenge of playing alongside Steve McManaman won it twice Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been with Real, Paul Lambert once with known to scowl if a team-mate scores. Borussia Form and Dortmund and fitness-wise, this Owen Hargreaves season has not once with Bayern been the easiest for Munich. Bale, but he has still More outstanding, managed 19 goals though, is to in 38 appearances. last five seasons and have a contract His five in his last five La Liga that, in theory, keeps him there matches have certainly given Zinedine until 2022. Zidane something to ponder. Bale left the English game Whether he starts or not, as the 2012-13 Footballer of speculation will be rife this summer, the Year. At the awards but, if he is told he is still wanted, why dinner, he came across as would Bale agitate for a move? shy to the point of Come back and play as a second introverted. left-back under Jose? For a 23-year-old, They all say it, but Bale is a the challenge of character motivated by achievement adapting to life in and what an achievement it would be Madrid and in to last a decade at the Bernabeu. one of football’s Measuring the success of home most players who moved abroad is tough. pressurised Kevin Keegan was twice European environments Footballer of the Year when at Hamburg, John Charles was a was trailblazer who won three Serie A titles with Juventus and scored 108 goals in 155 league matches. But if Bale gets on the field and collects a fourth Champions League medal, any debate will be over. The greatest British footballing export – bar none. Why come back here to play as a second left-back for Mourinho?