Real Madrid right winger Gareth Bale has been spending the 2020-2021 season on loan at his old club Tottenham. Although he had a brief period of excellent form under Jose Mourinho in which he went on a hot streak of goals in the Europa League and against lower-tier Premier League competition like Crystal Palace, Bale has largely been ineffective for Spurs.
Madridistas hoped that Bale’s brief hot streak would turn into something more and convince the North London club to keep him beyond the 2020-2021 campaign, but they are not surprised to see the results fail to stick. Bale was one of Real’s worst players in 2019-2020, showing startlingly low levels of explosiveness and influence on games.
Bale’s future after this season is totally up in the air, but it sounds like he remains intent on staying with Real Madrid. Given Spurs are highly unlikely to keep him, Real may not have much of a say in the matter.
According to sources close to Marco Ruiz of AS (article in Spanish), Gareth Bale currently envisions himself as a Real Madrid player for the 2021-2022 season. Ruiz writes that Bale’s family is currently residing in Madrid, using this as further evidence supporting the claims of sources speaking anonymously to the paper.
Gareth Bale and Real Madrid might not have a choice but to work together
Bale’s desire to remain in Madrid was stated even before his homecoming with Spurs, so it is very believable that he would like a return next season. Zinedine Zidane’s own future is murky, as he could step down on his own accord after this stressful season. The relationship between Zidane and Bale is largely seen as fractured, though it’s possible both could put their differences behind them if the 31-year-old club legend is able to produce.
That’s a pretty big “if”, given that Bale has not been effective enough to start for Real Madrid in years. But it is also true that Real have not received much production from their wingers this season. Eden Hazard has proven to be just as injury-prone, Vinicius Junior is still learning, Rodrygo Goes is suffering from a lack of a set role, and Marco Asensio was more disappointing than arguably any other Madrid player this season.
Bale could still see himself as part of the solution, and he doesn’t have many options with Spurs surely not interested in taking on his huge salary. Real Madrid don’t want that financial burden either, but they may not have a choice in the matter. Bale is still their player, and they may just have to make the most of the situation.