Why does Gareth Bale need to wait for Wales to qualify (or not) for the World Cup finals to decide on his future? Bale is a very wealthy man and money is not the motivation for his decision according to his agent Jonathan Barnett. If that's the case, either he wants to play for Cardiff City or he doesn't.
If Wales don't qualify I think he will retire. Should they qualify he will want regular game time leading up to Qatar. Will probably sign for us and play for little no money. After the World Cup who knows?
Surely a season or two with his home town club like Bellamy would be worth it to both him and the club - or has golf got the better of him?
With his wealth will he really want to be kicked to buggery in the Championship every week for 2 seasons? If he comes to us it will be up to the World Cup and a single season max. Like Bellers he will have done his bit for his home town club.
So you mean it's dependent upon Wales qualifying as to whether he does "his bit for his home town club"? In other words, if they don't, he won't.
No not from Bale himself. Only what Barnett and Page have both said publicly. Maybe he's already signed a provisional agreement with City and Morison is keeping it quiet.............
I'm sure he has numerous considerations that are not in the public domain. He'll make his decision when it's right for him - just as most of us do. Brief aside, it's great to see Hilts again.
This is true... He'll be a massive target in the Championship for opposition players and fans alike. He more than likely is waiting to retire and concentrate on his many other business and leisure interest, however, as an incredibly proud Welshman, he'll want to be in the best condition possible for his country. If using our club as a short term stopgap helps him and us (think of the commercial revenue it's likely to generate alone, even aside from the wisdom and support he can give our younger players) then I'm comfortable with it.
The fact remains that if Wales were to qualify, then Bale would need a club and regular outings for inclusion in the squad. A clubless player who officially retires from the game would not be considered. I doubt he'd get any regular gametime at Spurs and playing in the MLS is the road to nowhere. He'd need a good pre season to get to proper match fitness and pitch time for the 12 weeks before the WC shutdown. He'd get that at City and do himself a lot of good playing and mentoring the youngsters at the club. If he doesn't need the money (and he certainly doesn't), then it's a no brainer to join City and do the business for club and country.
Just say Wales do qualify & Bale wants to play some competitive football to tune him up for the WC, then what type of club would be interested? No PL club surely will bin out serious cash if he’s only going to play for them to keep fit for the WC and not bust a gut just in case he pulls a muscle or whatever. Plus what happens after the WC? What’s his incentive then? IMO it’ll either be Cardiff due to his local connection and the fans accepting he’ll only play now and again but it’ll be a boon commercially or a Chinese or other foreign club who’ll play mega bucks just for the shirt sales etc.
I heard “short term contract” on Wales Today tonight. What use is that to a club embarking on a 46 game season? So he comes here, plays the odd game and probably not the arduous mid week away fixtures at eg Boro or Rotherham, and then packs it in after the WC. If Bale wants to come then he’s got to commit to the season, WC notwithstanding. In fact the WC’s irrelevant to me as far as he’s concerned. He’s only welcome if he is committed WC or no WC.