Gareth Bale performs transfer U-turn as agent offers Wales international to surprise club

Gareth Bale could reject a return to the UK by opting to join a surprise Spanish club instead, according to their president.

Bale will become a free agent on July 1, when his Real Madrid contract runs out. The winger appears keen to continue his career elsewhere, despite reports suggesting he might retire.

Bale’s main priority is to play for Wales at the World Cup. And his deflected free-kick against Ukraine sent them to the tournament for the first time in 64 years.

But the star needs to maintain match fitness at a high level so he can perform well for Wales in Qatar later this year. This means a new club needs to be found in the coming weeks.

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Tottenham have no plans to re-sign Bale for a third time.

Championship club Cardiff City, in contrast, are planning an audacious move to take the 32-year-old back to Wales.

Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, previously said a return to England is the most likely scenario. But it seems Bale could complete a U-turn by remaining in Spain, much to the disappointment of Cardiff and any interested English clubs.

That’s because Getafe president Angel Torres claims to be in contact with Bale’s representatives.

President has spoken with Gareth Bale entourage

“I spoke with the player’s agent this morning,” Torres said (via the Daily Mail). “He has been offered to us.

“We will consider it. I am going to have to speak to the technical staff.”

Like Cardiff, Getafe don’t have huge financial power and would therefore require Bale to take a big wage cut.

However, there could be some big incentives for him to join Quique Sanchez Flores’s squad.

The Daily Mail claim Bale doesn’t want to uproot his family by taking them back to the UK. And Getafe’s stadium is only 20 minutes away from the player’s current home, which means he could stay put.

Plus, Getafe are close to his golf club, which means he would be able to continue his other sporting passion.

Getafe are Madrid’s third club, behind Real and Atletico. They finished 15th in La Liga during the 2021-22 season, which shows the drop in quality Bale would have to deal with.

But no one can really blame him if he wants to prioritise his family, and playing for Wales, for the remainder of his career.

After all, Bale has won more Champions League crowns (5) than any other British player, as well as lifting three La Liga titles.

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk provides the latest on Manchester United and Leeds’ transfer plans.