Revealed: The former Serie A star earning more than Gareth Bale

FT Desk

18 Oct 2022 20:55 BST
3 min read

Gareth Bale may be a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, but he is far from being the highest-paid player in MLS, with a former Serie A star's pay leaving his standing…

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Bale joined LAFC on the expiry of his Real Madrid contract in June, joining the likes of Carlos Vela and Giorgio Chiellini at the ambitious Californian club.

Despite the excitement surrounding his arrival, the Welshman has only started two of his 12 appearances in Major League Soccer, scoring two goals against Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake.

Gareth Bale tearing up MLS defences already 😎pic.twitter.com/rZ4ubQERIL
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 7, 2022

But perhaps more disappointing for the forward is the fact that his LAFC teammate Vela earns more than him - $350,833 (€356,100) more than him.

The MLS Players Association released its annual salary information report on Monday, and it reveals that Bale, who once earned €2.1 million a month at the Bernabeu, now brings home just $2,386,667 (€2,422,359) a year in guaranteed salary in Los Angeles.

Insigne tops the list

The top earner is former Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne, who now brings home $14m (€14.2m) a year after swapping the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for Toronto FC in July.

Xherdan Shaqiri, now of Chicago Fire ($8,153,000/€9,365,391) and LA Galaxy's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez ($8,153,000/€9,365,391) are the next best-paid players on the list.

Bale is in a race to be fit for Wales' World Cup campaign in Qatar this winter, but he has dismissed suggestions that things are not going to plan with LAFC.

"It feels nice, the fans have been really supportive over there," he said recently. "They've been really patient as well which is good. I'm enjoying playing there, the atmosphere is incredible, they're all supporting the team.

"I can't ask for any more than that. They've made me feel at home straight away. So it's good vibes from the MLS and hopefully that gives me more confidence going into Wales as well.