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Welsh star says goodbye
Gareth Bale has confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid this summer when his contract at the club comes to an end, stating that he fulfilled his “dream” of playing for the club and winning titles over the course of his nine-year stay in Spain. The Wales international will become a free agent when his deal expires at the end of June. In an open letter which the player published on social media, Bale overlooked much of the criticism he has received in recent years from fans and the Spanish media – who likened him to a “parasite” earlier this year – to thank the club and, in particular, club president Florentino Pérez for supporting him through the years.
It has been an honour. Thank you! #HALAMADRID @RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/T7FL2LNRrD
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) June 1, 2022
“I write this message to say thank you to all my teammates, past and present, my managers, the backroom staff and to the fans that supported me,” Bale wrote. “I arrived here nine years ago as a young man who wanted to realise my dream of playing for Real Madrid. “To wear the pristine white kit, to wear the crest on my chest, to play at the Santiago Bernabéu, to win titles and to be part of what it’s so famous for, to win the Champions League. I can now look back, reflect and say with honesty that this dream became a reality and much, much more.”
He added: “To be a part of this club’s history and to achieve what we achieved while I was a Real Madrid player, has been an incredible experience and one I will never forget. I also want to thank president Florentino Pérez, José Ángel Sánchez [the managing director], and the board for giving me the opportunity to play for this club. Together we were able to create some moments that will live forever in the history of this club and football. It has been an honour. Thank you! HALA MADRID!”
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Hero or zero? Bale’s legacy at Madrid remains up in the air
While Bale has decided to look back on his time at the club with fond memories, the question remains among many of the club’s fans over his time in Madrid and whether he ended up being worthy of being called a hero at Los Blancos. However, his record at the club does suggest that history will be kind on the Welsh forward.
Having joined the club for a truly remarkable sum of €101 million from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 and breaking the world transfer record in the process, Bale immediately set about proving his value to his new club with no less than 22 goals and 19 assists in his first season in Spain. With perhaps the most important contribution coming in the Champions League final, when he scored the crucial second goal in extra time to beat Atletico Madrid. Indeed, Bale’s early career at Madrid was nothing short of remarkable, as the player went on to win four successive Champions Leagues with the Spanish giants, alongside a La Liga title and a Spanish Cup. Over the course of his first five seasons in Spain, Bale averaged an impressive 0.95 goals and assists per 90 minutes and more than one major trophy each season.
Unfortunately, Bale’s reputation at Madrid then took a nosedive when the player seemingly began to struggle for game time under manager Zinedine Zidane and was reportedly keen on leaving the club. Rumours of the Wales international preferring his afternoons on the golf course to mornings on the training pitch began to gather momentum, which Bale then exacerbated the situation by picking up a Wales flag from the crowd which read “Wales. Golf. Madrid – In That Order” when he and his team mates celebrated qualification for Euro 2020. A wedge had undoubtedly been placed between the Madrid star and the club’s fans.
Gareth Bale has confirmed his departure from Real Madrid, stating that his dream of winning titles for the club came true
And he certainly isn’t wrong pic.twitter.com/rcwpSNSdcm
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) June 1, 2022
As such, the past three or four years of Bale’s time at Madrid has seemed more akin to a grounded teenager either refusing to play for the first team or being entirely ostracised by the manager. However, any suggestions that Bale may have lost his speed, sharpness or ability to win games have been routinely extinguished by the player’s continued performances for his country and an impressive loan spell at Tottenham last season. As the old saying goes, time heals all things and once the dust has settled on Bale’s dramatic time at Madrid, fans may be able to look back on the five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and one Spanish Cup which he helped the club to win and appreciate the good times more than the bad ones. But there’s no doubt that very few players have had as many highs and lows at Los Blancos quite like Bale.
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