Bale dreams of finishing career with Real Madrid

Welsh superstar pens new lucrative contract with Spanish giants

Gareth Bale can see himself finishing his career at Real Madrid after signing a new long-term contract with the Spanish giants.

The Wales international put pen to paper yesterday on a deal that ties him to Real until June 30 2022 and which expires just before he turns 33. Bale has been regularly linked with a big-money move back to England, with Manchester United reportedly leading the chase for his services, but the former Tottenham player only has eyes for Real.

Asked if he could envisage ending his top-flight career at the Bernabeu even if it meant not playing in the Premier League again, Bale said: “Yeah, for sure. The reason I signed here for so long is because I’m very happy here.

“I feel more comfortable every year that I’m here as well. I’m improving my Spanish, my family’s more settled. I fully intend to see out my contract here.

“Obviously in the future, I don’t know when I’m going to retire, but I’m very happy here at the moment and for the next six years I’m not looking past that really.”

United have long been linked with a move for Bale, even before the Welshman left Spurs to join Real in 2013 for a then-world record fee of £85.3 million.

As recently as last month there was speculation of a possible attempt by the Red Devils to sign the flying forward, but Bale himself insists he knows nothing about any transfer talk.

Media reports have suggested the 27-year-old will be earning in the region of £18m a year – £350,000 per week after tax – and is in the top three best-paid players in the world, along with Lionel Messi and team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.