Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[BringBack_leGin]

Lets be honest here, Given his stature in the game he could probably choose any culture or any league. However the only place he has ever seemed likely to go is the one country that could have paid him more money. Lower his demands he would have suitors in Italy, Germany & Portugal. Aswell as a different part of England. He is not making decisions based on culture.

So you think it’s inconceivable that a man who has spent his life working in two European capitals and has through those jobs plied his trade in countless other great European cities would be interested, while he’s young enough to still take full advantage of it, in experiencing the totally different culture and way of life of an oriental city?

Would you say the same if he was, I don’t know, an ISDA negotiator within a major bank?

 

[adamsky]

Young man with all the money and absolutely nothing left to prove has opportunity to experience (and expose his kids to) a new culture and way of life.

Yes, the money is good, but he’s already earned a fortune. When a young lawyer or teacher goes to work in China or Australia or Singapore or the states, is that about the money or about the opportunity and life experience? Footballers are people too.

So you think he goes there if they aren’t there paying those wages? Also not sure you can compare a lawyer going to work in another country to a footballer going to play in a much lower standard and lower profile league. Everyone knows it was for the money, am not buying he was ‘excited by the project’. It Is his right to do what he wants, just saying it is a shame.

 

[tiger666]

The mental gymnastics people go through to convince themselves and others that he couldn't possibly be just interested in making more money. It's his career, he's perfectly entitled to just want money if he wants. We get it, he was your hero once, you don't need to keep jumping to his defence.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

So you think he goes there if they aren’t there paying those wages? Also not sure you can compare a lawyer going to work in another country to a footballer going to play in a much lower standard and lower profile league. Everyone knows it was for the money, am not buying he was ‘excited by the project’. It Is his right to do what he wants, just saying it is a shame.

I accept that the inflated salary plays a part, even a big part, but it’s hugely disrespectful to both him and the country to say it’s the only reason, which is what is commonly asserted. Why exactly is it a shame? He’s won every trophy available to him, player of the year awards, best goal awards, scored winning goals in finals, what exactly has he not given to football in Europe? Yes, he could give more but equally he might not get the same opportunity in a couple of years, particularly if he gets another bad injury.

The condescension aimed at non European leagues is really not something we should be seeing in this century.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The mental gymnastics people go through to convince themselves and others that he couldn't possibly be just interested in making more money. It's his career, he's perfectly entitled to just want money if he wants. We get it, he was your hero once, you don't need to keep jumping to his defence.

Of course he wants to make more money, but he’d not exactly be a pauper if he moved to PSG would he? It’s not mental gymnastic, it’s ‘young man has opportunity to do something the rest of us would jump on, and get well paid for it, so why wouldn’t he?’

 

[absolute bobbins]

The mental gymnastics people go through to convince themselves and others that he couldn't possibly be just interested in making more money. It's his career, he's perfectly entitled to just want money if he wants. We get it, he was your hero once, you don't need to keep jumping to his defence.

And holding a footballer to a standard that they would never hold themselves to

 

[Wakey]

The condescension aimed at non European leagues is really not something we should be seeing in this century.

Why don't you tell us who we are allowed to be condescending to and not?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Why don't you tell us who we are allowed to be condescending to and not?

This is where I stop interacting on this particular topic. I’d only be going in circles.

 

[Yid-ol]

If I was bale and the only club that came in for me was in china, I would move just to get away, the money would be a bonus! No other club seems to be coming in for him.

 

[garyhopkins]

In hindsight not letting him go on a free transfer was a massive mistake. He has cost them £30m+ this season to sit on the bench and troll them. Meanwhile covid has hit and they'll probably have to subsidise any move for him this summer, or just risk chucking another £30m in the bin.

Also no-one takes China seriously. The only way they would have had egg on their face is if they let him go and he starred in the league and CL for another top club.

It was the ideal move, I have no idea why they didn't go for it.

Yep, in hindsight Madrid probably didn't expect Gareth to be quite so unprofessional (or troll them; whichever way you want to look at it).

But letting him go for free would have been silly. He was a prized asset. Just imagine if he hated China or found his love for football again. He could have been back at a top team in Europe within a year and Madrid would have given him away. I think there's a limit to cutting your losses...

 

[Cinemattis]

Homegrown? Check
Leader on the pitch/in the dressing room? Check
Will recoup his entire fee in shirt sales? Check
Teammates who already know his language? Check (Ben Davies)

There’s never been a better time for him to #ComeHome

José’s bringing the good times baby, let’s go!

But: is he tall enough?

 

[adamsky]

I accept that the inflated salary plays a part, even a big part, but it’s hugely disrespectful to both him and the country to say it’s the only reason, which is what is commonly asserted. Why exactly is it a shame? He’s won every trophy available to him, player of the year awards, best goal awards, scored winning goals in finals, what exactly has he not given to football in Europe? Yes, he could give more but equally he might not get the same opportunity in a couple of years, particularly if he gets another bad injury.

The condescension aimed at non European leagues is really not something we should be seeing in this century.

Get off your high horse, it has nothing to do with being condescending to non European leagues, Bale was going there for the money. All things being equal he wasn’t choosing there.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Young man with all the money and absolutely nothing left to prove has opportunity to experience (and expose his kids to) a new culture and way of life.

Yes, the money is good, but he’s already earned a fortune. When a young lawyer or teacher goes to work in China or Australia or Singapore or the states, is that about the money or about the opportunity and life experience? Footballers are people too.

Yes they are people, but extremely, extremely, grotesquely wealthy people who’s weekly wage in China would feed and clothe a local village for a year.

My point being, there is the opportunity to make money for your family and friends for generations and having unique cultural experiences, but also just being totally obsessed with acquiring infinite money and power which to me is not an admirable trait.

 

[Goobers]

There are several things that need to align here. We need to be able to afford his wages, we need to be able to avoid paying a transfer fee, he needs to want to come back to us, he needs to want to come back to the PL rather than perhaps more lucrative worldwide opportunities, and mainly he needs to still want to achieve something and be motivated to do so.
apart from that I reckon he is nailed on ...

 

[ShayLaB]

Hair

Given that tooth brush etiquette has proven to be so divisive, we could be split on follicle aesthetics.

Gareth Bale open to Premier League move as he seeks Real Madrid exit

Gareth Bale has said he would consider a return to the Premier League from Real Madrid if the option arises

www.theguardian.com

 

[spids]

Madrid and Bale are waiting to see who blink's first. If Bale does not blink he will get a mot of money for doing nothing. If I was Madrid's president I would offer him 30% of his outstanding contract to cancel it and let him be a free agent. They'd save their club tens of millions by doing that. No club will pay a fee and match his wages - they are in dream land if they think anyone will.

 

[cider spurs]

That hair.

Forget China, I reckon J1 league. Clearly grown his hair to moonlight as a Geisha girl.

 

[Led Revolver]

A left footed winger with plenty of electric pace, that cuts in from the right side and scores goals should be a priority..

Bale would be a dream, but highly unlikely. One of Leon Bailey, David Neres or David Brooks are more possible I’d say.

 

[Cel]

I always saw China as his kind of get out of jail free card - he didn't have to stay there. Go to China, make a fortune for a year so you don't leave the RM cash on the table, leave Chinese club much easier than you can RM. The culture would have been a bonus, but he (and his agent) would be in much more control once out of RM of any future moves. He could have been playing for a club in Europe by now, not arsing about on Madrids bench.

 

[spurs mental]

HERE WE GO!