Summer 2016’s biggest transfer saga has already begun.
The writing must have been on the wall for Rafa Benitez the moment he outlined his plans to build his Real Madrid team around Gareth Bale.
James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema and Cristiano ‘CR7’ Ronaldo don’t strike us as having huge egos but they may have been somewhat put out by the notion of Bale calling the shots.
Benitez is gone now and Bale, who scored his ninth goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Valencia, is said to be ‘considering his future’.
While The Times may be reporting on something more than mere introspection – who, after all, doesn’t consider their future numerous times a day – it seems Bale is “intensely disappointed” by the latest managerial chicanery at the Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti’s exit did not go down at all well with Los Blancos’ faithful while Benitez has been heaved after only 18 games with his team four points of the top in La Liga and in the Champions League knock-out stages.
Unsettled Real Madrid attackers float the boat of Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward.
Woodward has reached out to Bale’s agent to try and establish if there is a genuine chance of luring the Welshman to Old Trafford this summer. As noted in The Times:
“Any move… would still face significant roadblocks: as well as Bale’s £300,000-a-week wages, United would have to find sufficient funds to meet [Real president Florentino] Pérez’s asking price. Given his unwillingness to sell, that could start as high as £150 million.”
Other media outlets are reporting an altogether more reasonable £75m for Bale.
Real may mention the £150m to ward off interest but United have shown, through Woodward, that they are capable of putting together whopper bids.
With United goalkeeper David De Gea having a €41m buy-out clause in his contract, an eventual return to Spain could well sweeten any deal for Bale.
