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Could the unthinkable finally happen seven years after Ed Woodward first tried and failed?
The Times reports that Gareth Bale is “open to joining Manchester United” as he considers moving away from Real Madrid.
Instant reaction: The instant reaction here is that it would be a huge disappointment if Bale turns out to be the alternative to Jadon Sancho.
Sancho is an attractive option because he is young (20), produced goals and assists at a prolific rate last season in Germany, and has a full decade ahead of him.
Bale is 31 years old and his best years, it seems, are behind him. United should look for another promising star full of potential instead of Sancho, instead of the Welshman.
Two big concerns
Jadon Sancho’s aspect aside, there are two big concerns about why a Gareth Bale play would fail.
The first concerns your salary. He earns an astronomical amount at Real Madrid, and even if United paid just 50 percent of his salary, he would become one of the top earners on the team.
United does not want another Alexis Sánchez who is not really committed to the team and is moving ‘because he is not Madrid’, instead of wanting to play for the club.
The second concern is Bale’s physical form. Injuries have ruined his career in recent seasons, to the point that he has not reached 30 LaLiga games in any of his last five seasons at Real Madrid.
His recent lack of soccer could lead to further injuries if he gets going.
How could it work
We are not here just to be negative. Let’s take a glass half-full approach and explore how a move for Bale could turn out to be a hit.
The key to this would be Bale’s motivation. How much has the way Zinedine Zidane put you aside at Real Madrid hurt you?
If Bale really wants to prove a point and show Madrid how wrong he was wrong, there is no better setting to do so than at Old Trafford, with the eyes of the world watching.
A permanent change would be better than a loan, on the grounds that Bale accepts a major pay cut.
If you were to take a deal where you made around £ 120,000 per week, it would show how serious success is, that you want to fit in, making a similar amount to Donny van de Beek, and that you want to put your football first.
A sacrifice of this nature would send a message to fans that he is in the club for the right reasons and is a man on a mission.
Talent and proven track record
We all know what a good player Gareth Bale has been over the past decade, and if he can bring this back for a couple of seasons, it could make a big impact.
Bale is a four-time Champions League champion with Real Madrid, even scoring a spectacular bicycle kick in the final against Liverpool just two years ago.
He’s also a proven product in the Premier League, he previously excelled at Tottenham, scoring 21 goals in 33 games in 2012/13 so you know what to expect and what it takes to be successful.
There is a chance that he will come to the Premier League and break it again, and United is missing a top winger.
Given the choice between Bale and no one, it may make sense to take a chance, and in the process, he could be a valuable mentor to Dan James.
Bale’s recent record
The biggest blow against Bale is his lack of football in 2019/20. He played 16 games for Real in La Liga, scoring two goals and giving two assists.
In recent games for Wales, Dan James overshadowed him, partly due to a lack of regular club football.
This is an obvious concern, and it could take a while for Bale to reach top speed and meet Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fitness requirements.
In the 2018/19 season Bale achieved a better return, scoring 14 goals in all competitions and providing seven assists. The year before, he scored 21 goals and provided seven assists.
The giggs factor
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would seek the advice of Wales international coach Ryan Giggs before agreeing to take Bale.
I’d be asking Giggs about Bale’s character, fitness, motivation, and current ability.
Bale also has his international role to consider, and a move to United may benefit his country ahead of Euro 2021 and one last chance to qualify for the World Cup in 2022.
If Bale is motivated to succeed with his country, then that is an additional reason to seek a move to United for him. correct reasons instead of money, and leave Spain.
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