Gareth Bale is willing to sign a short-term contract with a new club that would allow him to retire after the World Cup, though this is contingent on Wales’ qualification.
Bale’s contract with Real Madrid will expire at the end of the season, bringing an end to a nine-year stay in the Spanish capital.
The 32-year-future, old’s however, is dependent on whether Wales qualify for the World Cup. He scored a game-winning brace to advance to a play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine in June.
According to the Evening Standard, Bale will consider retiring this summer if Wales fails to qualify for the finals in Qatar, but if they do, he could sign a six-month deal with a new club to keep himself fit until the tournament begins in November.
Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan last season in order to stay sharp for Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign, scoring 16 goals in 34 games. While he has been linked with a return to Spurs, the forward is unlikely to return to north London.
Cardiff City, Bale’s hometown club, has also expressed interest and could provide him with his first opportunity to play club football in his country. The Bluebirds are currently 17th in the Championship and appear to be a safe bet to remain a second-tier club when Bale hits free agency.
Bale has only played five times for Real Madrid this season due to injuries, and he recently retaliated against the Spanish press for their continued harassment of him.
