It is safe to say that Gareth Bale had an interesting career at Real Madrid. Whether it be the goal that put them ahead in the UEFA Champions League final vs Atletico, as they secured La Decima. Or that goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final which broke the internet. Or maybe the brace against Liverpool, including one of them being a stunning bicycle kick at the biggest stage possible.
Bale was instrumental to Real Madrid and one of its most successful eras, as they secured five Champions League titles in nine seasons.
In many ways, he was the final piece of the puzzle, as his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur ended up opening the floodgates for Real Madrid in terms of European success in the previous decade. And it has never really stopped since then.
Bale has announced his retirement from both club and international football on social media, sending a farewell message to the fans.
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2023
Real Madrid legend announces his retirement from international football
Bale might have played a huge part in Real Madrid’s successes but that does not mean that his entire run at the club was rosy. In fact, by the end of it, most fans wanted to see him depart, with the Welshman making little to no contribution to the team and spending most weeks on the bench.
It is better to remember the good times than the bad ones though, and Bale did the job that he was brought in to do, turn Real Madrid back into a force in Europe after they had not won a Champions League title in more than a decade.
For that, Real Madrid fans can only thank him. We wish him the best of luck in his next step and hope that he achieves all the success in the world in that field.