Real Madrid will be hosting Real Betis on the final matchday of LaLiga Santander as preparations for the UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool are well underway.
However, it looks like two Real Madrid legends – Marcelo and Gareth Bale – won’t be getting the send-offs they deserve as they are in doubt to be available for the game against Betis. That comes from a tweet by journalist Arancha Rodríguez.
Marcelo, Real Madrid’s most decorated player of all-time with 24 trophies (could make it 25 if Los Blancos lift their 14th UCL trophy), and Gareth Bale, who played a key role in three of the four Champions League triumphs, are set to leave the club on a free as their contracts expire in the summer.
Marcelo has been linked with Fluminense and Gareth Bale to the Premier League
Marcelo could yet decide to retire, although there were rumours of the Brazilian left-back returning for a stint with Fluminense, the club where it all began for him. But it could also be possible that Marcelo and the club could agree for extending the contract for another year. Gareth Bale, on the other hand, could return to the Premier League, according to his agent Jonathan Barnett.
It is saddening that two of the greatest figures in Real Madrid’s recent era-defining run may not be able to grace the Santiago Bernabéu one last time. Marcelo joined the club in the 2007 January transfer window, and has gone on to make 575 appearances since then. While at Real Madrid, the 34-year-old developed into the best left-back in the world and was a key part in Los Blancos winning four Champions League in five years.
So was Gareth Bale, who arrived at Real Madrid after a world record transfer (€100 million) at the time. The Welshman will certainly go down as the greatest right-winger in club history. If only injuries and off-field antics hadn’t impacted his Real Madrid career.
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These two giants deserve much more, but I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for whatever they did for the club.