Wales ace Bale plans a Real return once Spurs loan is over

Gareth Bale will return to Real Madrid once his loan spell at Tottenham ends.

Wales captain Bale joined Spurs on loan in September and has suffered form and fitness issues during his second spell in north London.

The 31-year-old’s Madrid contract runs until the end of the 202122 season.

“There’s no distraction for me,” Bale told a press conference ahead of tonight’s opening 2022 World Cup qualifier for the Welsh in Belgium.

“The main reason I came to Spurs this year was to play football first and foremost.

“Going into the Euros I wanted to be match-fit. The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros still have a year left at Real Madrid. My plan is to go back, that’s as far I have planned.”

Spurs manager Jose Mourinho said earlier this month that Bale’s future beyond the end of the season was a matter for Real.

● Seamus Coleman hopes to play his part in another World Cup adventure for Ireland before he eventually hangs up his boots.

The Irish launch their latest qualifying campaign in Serbia tonight, with the 32-yearold skipper knowing he may not have many more World Cup chances.

However, he insists his only focus is getting to the finals, not his own footballing future.

“My frame of mind is I want Ireland to get to the World Cup. My frame of mind is never ‘My last chance this, my last chance that’. I want to fight for my country,” said the Everton full-back.

“I want a World Cup for the lads that are here, for the fans at home, whether it be my last or secondlast, whatever the case may be, I don’t care.”

END GAME: Gareth Bale.