Gareth Bale will leave Real Madrid this summer after nine years, over 250 appearances, and four Champions League titles — but his next move is unknown.
Bale will be 33 by the start of the next season; will he remain in Europe’s top five leagues, or will he play in a lower-profile division?
Ahead of Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifying play-off against Austria tonight, we take a look at where Bale could be playing club football come this winter’s tournament in Qatar.
fading away
Bale is suffering from an injury-plagued season for the second time in his Real Madrid career.
Various issues have limited him to 270 minutes in all competitions, and he has only made one start since August.
Having been frozen out by Carlo Ancelotti’s predecessor Zinedine Zidane, Bale spent last season on loan back at Tottenham.
He has featured just seven times for Los Blancos in total over the last two years.
With reports in Spain claiming Bale’s recent back issue has recurred, although he has managed to train with Wales, who knows how many more Real appearances he might make.
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Leaving on good terms
It has clearly not been plain sailing for Bale at the Bernabeu in recent years but Ancelotti is adamant he wants to go out on a high.
Speaking last month, the Italian said: “I have a good relationship with [Bale] and the rest of the players.
“Personal relationships are strong when everyone shows respect and he has always done that and has never let me down in that regard.
“In the past, he hasn’t had great motivation, but he wants to end things here in a good way.
“Bale has helped this club to win the Champions League, Copa del Rey and signing off on a high here would be good for his career.”
With Real nine points clear at the top of LaLiga and into the Champions League last eight, there is every chance of that happening if he can stay fit.
Has he still got it?
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Bale is past his devastating best — that is a natural product of age — but he remains an elite operator and has shown as much during his limited involvement this term.
Even if he has lost some of the pace which has laid waste to many a full-back down the years, he seems to have plenty more fuel in the tank — and he has proven himself to be a strong option at centre forward.
Wherever he ends up this summer, Bale is bound to be a huge asset to that team.
His performances for his country have proven he can still contribute at the highest level if utilised in a system which gets the best out of him.
Bale himself has ruled out retirement and is fully concentrated on delivering for Robert Page’s Dragons before thinking about his personal future.
Ahead of the Austria clash, he said: “I’ve got things planned for the future and whenever that may be, it’ll happen. But at this current moment, I’m not thinking further than Thursday’s game.
“I’m solely focused on this game, this qualification. There’s still a lot to play for and I’m not thinking about anything else at the moment.
This requires all my attention, all my focus, all my preparation over the last few months. I’m not thinking about anything else but the game, and after that, we’ll go from there. “
A second Spurs return?
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Bale’s second spell at Spurs was a success for all concerned.
In 34 appearances in all competitions, he scored 16 goals — including a Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United — as well as providing three assists.
A legend at the North London club, Bale would be given a hero’s welcome were he to return for a third spell.
In Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system, Bale could either play on the right or deputise for Harry Kane through the middle, a role he has been deployed in for Wales.
Given the emotional bond between the two parties, it would not be a surprise to see Spurs go back in for their Welsh wizard.
Time to wind down?
Alternatively, Bale could decide it is time to start taking things a little easier and head to Major League Soccer.
It is a path well-trodden by greats of the game, with several former Real stars doing so after leaving the Bernabeu.
David Beckham made LA Galaxy his next club, while Kaka finished his career with Orlando City and Gonzalo Higuain is currently plying his trade for Inter Miami.
Or perhaps Bale could take the path less travelled like Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, 37, who has been with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe since leaving Barcelona in 2018.
The world will be Bale’s oyster this summer but wherever he ends up, being fit and in-form ahead of this winter’s World Cup will be his No1 priority — if Wales get through the play-offs.
