IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DRAGON... NOT THE DOSH
Bale on the passion that drives Wales onwards
AT the end of a week which saw his lifelong Wales dream finally realised, Gareth Bale says national pride beats money any day.
Bale is his nation’s record scorer but was ready to retire if Wales failed to reach Qatar.
Now he is prolonging his career after helping Rob Page’s side to the World Cup.
Golfers are making the news for cashing in on Saudi money and Bale himself was previously labelled a “Welsh parasite” in Spain for running down his mega Real Madrid contract.
But the forward insists money doesn’t motivate him when it comes to playing with a Dragon on his chest.
Bale said: “We don’t play for our country for the money.
“We turn up and we just want
to play in front of the fans, achieve success and make our country proud. For us it has never been about money.
“We are not a big nation and we can’t pay big.
“For me, I’m not even sure I take a match fee. I just try to take a box every game at the stadium – that’ll do me.
“When you put the Welsh shirt on you give everything you can until you cannot do much anymore and we have plenty of subs who are more than capable of filling in.”
The Welsh icon and fivetime Champions League winner is out of contract this summer and is in demand at home and abroad.
But Bale, 33 next month, insists he will take time to find a new club and exciting challenge.
He added: “I haven’t had any talks yet – those conversations will happen after the internationals.
“Hopefully I can enjoy my holiday and then decide what I want to do and where I can be.
“I will sit down and we will see what excites me the most and what I want to do.
“I want to try and play games to be as fit as I can for the World Cup.
“Once I get back into playing regular football, my body will get more robust and a bit better.
“It’s very difficult to get a rhythm in terms of your fitness and health when you’re in and out of a team.
“I just need to play games and I’ll be good to go.”
Bale was used off the bench 13 minutes from time in Wales’ 2-1 midweek home defeat to Holland but is set to start this evening against Belgium.
But five internationals in quick succession is testing him and the Wales squad.
The Cardiff-born star said: “I feel fine. I pretty much train every day.
“There might be some days I have to take it easier rather than go full pelt to keep 100 percent fit.”