Wales manager Rob Page has been discussing the idea of Gareth Bale joining Cardiff City despite separate reports claiming that the Welshman has agreed to return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
Bale will be leaving Real Madrid once his contract expires at the end of the season, and his next move will be a very interesting one.
Bale is certainly talented enough to play for almost any team on the planet, but with his mind elsewhere and the Welsh national team his priority, there has been discussion about potential retirement or a potential move to Cardiff where he could play more sporadically in order to avoid injuries ahead of the World Cup.
Page thinks a move to Cardiff would be great for Bale at this point of his career, stating that he’d be able to train in familiar surroundings and be closer to home.
What’s been said?
Page endorsed a move to Cardiff for Bale.
“It ticks all the boxes,” says Page. “Ultimately, it’s Gareth’s decision and Cardiff City’s.
“And I think he’s right to say: ‘Let’s throw full focus on to the 5th. Let’s get there first and have that discussion.
“We can carry on talking about it and guess and have our opinion on it, and it does make sense. It makes a lot of sense. He can base himself at a training ground he’s familiar with.
“Ultimately, let’s see what happens on the 5th and I’ll probably be the first one after the game to ask the question.”
“If he was playing for Cardiff and we had qualified for the World Cup I wouldn’t change my thoughts or respect for Gareth whatsoever.”
“He would definitely be a part of the World Cup squad anyway. As long as he is out playing football – that’s the most important thing for us.”
What does he want?
The ball is in Bale’s court and his next move simply comes down to what he wants to get out of these final few years of his career.
If he wants to solely focus on Wales then a move to Cardiff would make the world of sense, but if he wants to have one more crack at the Premier League, then Spurs would perhaps be the best option for him.
Bale has reportedly already negotiated a return to Tottenham, so a third spell in north London could be on the cards, but at the same time, the idea of taking it easy in Cardiff and focusing on his national team commitments also sounds alluring.
It will be intriguing to see what Bale’s next move is.
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