From wunderkind to the world’s most expensive player, it’s been a career of numerous ups and downs for Gareth Bale. Now after almost 4 years as a Los Blanco, should the Welshman’s time in the Bernabéu be up?
In a deadline day move, Gareth Bale saw himself transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for a world record fee of an around $115M, depending what outlet you read. This transfer fee made him the most expensive player ever sold in world soccer history, even more expensive than Cristiano Ronaldo himself.
After seeing his spectacular performances in London, his price tag was justified, but he still had some doubters. To be understood, given a price tag like that. Well, just about four years later, it hasn’t been all smiles for Gareth in Madrid thus far. He has has had his bright spots, but it’s been a series of ups and downs for the kid who once has shown flashes of being a Ballon d’Or winner.
The young, pacey Welsh winger smashed it in his opening campaign for his new team and would start to justify his Galactico price tag. Scoring 15 and assisting 12 in 27 La Liga appearances, Gareth saw an outstanding campaign domestically. He wouldn’t stop there as he would be a part of 10 goals in 12 UEFA CL appearances, which put his tally for Real at 22 Goals and 16 assists in all competitions: a pretty solid debut season for the 24-year-old.
His 2014/2015 campaign saw him take a step back. He would make 49 appearances for Real and be involved in 39 goals, one more than his debut season but in 15 fewer appearances. Still a fantastic season, but not exactly what his price tag warranted, unlike what he did in his debut campaign.
The following season 2015/2016, Gareth looked worth every penny spent and like a sure Ballon d’Or winner, but unfortunately, not for the first time, Bale would continuously get knocked up with injuries. In only 23 La Liga appearances, Bale would score 19 and assist 10. That’s 29 goals in 23 appearances for the winger, but he just couldn’t stay healthy. He would also have numerous poor performances in the UEFA CL, a competition he wouldn’t score in all year because of injuries and form.
His 2015/2016 season was without a doubt his best in a Real Madrid kit, but his inability to stay on the pitch while doing it left fans disappointed. 36 appearances for a $115M player who was only 26 at the time won’t leave many people happy, despite how electrifying he was when he was healthy. It would be more of the same for Gareth this past season. Bale would only see himself on the pitch for 28 games, less than a full La Liga season let alone a campaign for a team like Real who can very easily participate in 50 matches in a single season.
In those 28 matches, unlike the year prior, Bale would also fail to set the world ablaze. He would only be apart of 9 goals and 3 assists. He would also be constantly out played by Isco on the wing, who the fans heavily favored more by the year’s end.
That leads us to the golden question: Should Real Madrid entertain selling their hundred million dollar man?
In my opinion, yes.
Earlier this year, The Real Champ’s very own Alex McVey discussed a possible Bale moved. He explored the option as well as I am doing right now, he also went over how it would be a major mistake on Real’s behalf.
It’s true, as McVey states, that Gareth Bale in his tenure at Real Madrid has portrayed world class ability and talent at times. However, other than one season in which he played only 36 games, he has failed to justify his price tag or even perform better than Isco or James Rodriguez if they were given the play time Bale received.
Another issue is his inability to stay healthy, especially during the last two seasons. Now I understand some of this will be taken as greedy. Other clubs and teams would kill for a player like Bale regardless how injury prone he is, but at Real Madrid, everything is taken into account.
Luis Castillo, another writer here at The Real Champs discussed a similar topic of Bale’s injuries when the staff of the site sat down to talk about the same topic. Should Bale be sold?
Castillo had this to say:
"Seventeen; that’s how many injuries he’s suffered over his career. That number by itself is impressive enough to warrant the “injury prone” label, but when you consider that 12 of those have happened while at Real Madrid, it becomes clear just how big that issue is."
Bale is also far from young. Having just recently turned 28, the Welshmen really only has three to four years of top class ability left in him, especially considering his injury history. With young players like Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappé, Paula Dybala, and others on the market as well as players like Isco and Asensio in the side already for Real, replacing him wouldn’t be a difficulty.
Replacing him would also allow Florentino Perez to continue his current goal for building a squad that will be ready for CR7’s retirement and that is filled with young, world class talents. Also, quite frankly, if Bale was sold, there would be ZERO pressure to bring in a replacement considering how well Isco played in his role in his absence last season when Real won the double. Bale played only 28 games and participated in 12 goals, something most quality bench wingers can do.
A major reason I do believe Bale should be sold and his funds used to bring in someone like a Mbappe and someone else in is the market. In today’s current market, players like Alvaro Morata, Kyle Walker, and Andrea Belotti are being valued and sold at over $50M a pop.
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Despite his recent injury history, Bale’s form has the track record to warrant a deal of an excess of $60M, even at 28. Especially to the Premier league. A winger who can get back and defend combined with incredible pace? If Jose Mourinho might pay $45M for Ivan Perisic, I would be surprised if he didn’t doubled that in an offer for the Welshmen.
With Morata already sold for about $80M, Danilo around $40M and no longer having to pay James Rodriguez wage bill, that’s $125-$130M of funds right there to work with to bring in a back up full back and a second choice striker.
Selling Bale for even just at $88M (his current market value according to Transfermarkt) would put Real Madrid at about $210M to play with, to sign three players. That’s a budget of $70M each, and in which two of those players can be back ups. Real would very easily pay the $120M wanted for Mbappe, and use the excess $90M to find a back up for Isco who would presumably now play on the right and Danilo who was recently sold to Manchester City. That just seems like good business to me.
In my respectful opinion, I truly believe Bale’s time in white should be up. The squad is getting younger and building for the future and he just isn’t the best fit for that. His funds would be a massive help in securing Mbappe as well. Although if you do believe he should stay, I truly understand. He has shown Ballon d’Or talent before and with a new training staff, hopefully, he stays injury free. Only time will tell.
Next: Real Madrid and Manchester City fighting over Mbappé's signature