It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid this summer, creating an opening in their line-up for a left footed player. And if today’s Marca is any indication, the courting of Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale to replace Ronaldo has begun.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Real are putting together a £33m offer (€40m) for Bale, who is said to be the Spanish Champions top target for next summer.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas dismissed Real’s chances of landing Bale last week and insisted it was ‘completely impossible’ that the lightning-quick midfielder would be allowed to leave in the January window.
“We recognise he is one of our major assets, but there are no release clauses, and a player of his dimension has a market value that is unattainable for most other clubs,’ said AVB.
If Marca is to be believed, AVB’s comments will not put off Spanish Champions, who were given first refusal on Bale as part of the Luka Modric’s move to Madrid this summer.
Marca, frequently a mouthpiece for Real Madrid, interestingly mentioned the close relationship between Real Madrid and Spurs. The two sides have done several deals in recent years including Van der Vaart’s cut-price switch to London, Madrid pulling out of the race for Adebayor to smooth Spurs’ bid to sign him, and Modric’s move in the opposite direction.
Selling Bale to Real Madrid would solve the problem of Spurs strengthening a direct rival by selling him to another English side.
The issue I see with this Bale to Real Madrid deal is the price. He is still only 23-years-old and has nowhere near his prime. So £33m for him sounds a little light, especially when his Brazilian team-mate Sandro believes that Bale is good enough to play for Brazil.
‘He’s one of the best in the world and I love playing alongside him,’ he said. ‘He’s good enough to play for Brazil. I’d love to have him in our team but he was born in Wales – it’s a shame.
‘I’ve played with a lot of good players but Bale is one of the very best. He is so good. It’s easy to talk to him because he is a great player and a great guy as well.
“He has everything. He is comfortable with the ball, he’s quick and he’s clever. He’s also strong too. Now he’s a dad he’s in a good place personally too. He’s got more responsibility and that has made a difference on the pitch.’
if Real Madrid really want Gareth Bale I think it will cost them cost a lot closer to £50m than the £33m currently being quoted.
