Bale to Barcelona! Is Real Madrid attacker set for shock transfer?

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 20 Apr 2022 13:41 BST
• 3 min read

Gareth Bale could be set to stun Real Madrid by signing for Barcelona in the summer according to reports in the Spanish press.

Bale is out of contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, and he has been linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur or even hometown club Cardiff City in recent months.

But with a winter World Cup in Qatar up ahead with Wales, and Bale wanting to play at as high a level as possible until then, the winger could be ready to swap out the Madrid part of the tongue-in-cheek "Wales, golf, Madrid" equation - in favour of Barcelona.

Bale definitely leaving Real Madrid

"Bale's had injuries, then his contract ends - he may not have had a good motivation but he wants to finish here as he deserves," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said recently. "It's important for Bale to finish his career well here."

In pure numbers, that might be difficult. While Bale has won four Champions Leagues in his time with the club and looks set to bow out with a third La Liga title, he has only featured in seven games in all competitions this season, contributing a single goal.

But that disappointing return would pale in comparison with a switch to Barca with regards to the uproar from Madrid fans - something that could be on the cards.

"One of his options is retirement, but there's a World Cup ahead and Wales has to play a phase to qualify," journalist Juanfe Sanz told Spanish late night sports show El Chiringuito.

"Gareth Bale, as we know, is in love with the Spanish climate and golf, and he's considering staying in Spain next season to play in La Liga. It wouldn't be at Real Madrid. I'm not authorised to say the name of the clubs, but you don't have to think about it too much to find out which clubs Bale could play for."

Luis Figo was the last transfer between the clubs of similar gravity, the Portugal winger swapping Barca for Real Madrid back in 2000.