Stunning headlines in Real Madrid’s unofficial mouthpiece Marca today that Gareth Bale’s representatives have been in talks with the Spanish giants to take the initial steps in the process to renew the Welshman’s contract.
Since arriving in Madrid from Spurs, Bale has been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester United the two clubs most frequently linked with the Welsh star. Manchester United in particular have invested a lot of time and energy over the last two years setting the stage for a Bale move back to England and I wonder what the Old Trafford hierarchy think of today’s story?
From the Marca article:
If everything runs smoothly, the new contract could be signed and sealed during the course of next summer.Bale is currently under contract at the Bernabéu until 2019, but the club are keen to reward what they deem as an improved attitude and commitment to the cause from the ex-Spurs winger. A contract renewal would represent recognition of Bale’s greater application, and his standing within a dressing room in which he’s seen as the man to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo at the forefront of the next chapter in the ‘Los Blancos’ project.
Interestingly, Marca also released details of Bale’s transfer from Spurs. The public announcement of the deal said that world record transfer fee was £78m or €91m. The exact amounts were £78,171,930 or €91, 589,842. However, the total amount payable varied depending on Real Madrid’s chosen method of payment.
If paid in cash, after subtracting the 5% solidarity mechanism clause – included in a separate annex -, the total payable is €87,010,350. If paid in instalments, that figure is close to 100 million: €99,743,542 in four annual payments.
What we did not know until today was that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has inserted a buy back clause in the deal. If Real Madrid sold Bale to another Premier League side before 30th June 2019, Spurs have the right of first refusal on any bid for the Welshman, a condition that expires 72 hours after Real Madrid inform the North Londoners of any offers received.
Also, had Real Madrid sold Bale to any other Premier League outfit before 1st September 2015, ‘Los Blancos’ would have had to pay Tottenham £10 million, one of the many reasons why United have been able to pry Bale away from the Bernabéu so far.
Do you think Bale will sign a new deal at Real Madrid or will the lure of England be too strong for him to withstand?
