27th July, 2019
Gareth Bale is set to leave Real Madrid to join Chinese club Jiangsu Suning on a three-year deal.
Sources close to Wales’ record goalscorer confirmed reports in Spain that although not yet finalised, a move is “very close.”
Real boss Zinedine Zidane had said Bale, 30, was “very close to leaving” after he was left out of their 3-1 pre-season defeat by Bayern Munich.
Zidane added his exit would be “best for everyone”.
The move to China would reportedly see Bale earn £1 million a week, BBC reports.
The Welshman came off the bench in Real’s last game to net as they won on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the International Champions Cup.
But Frenchman Zidane insisted “nothing had changed” and it could prove to be Bale’s final game for Real.
Bale joined the Spanish club for £85m from Tottenham in 2013 in a world record deal at the time.
He has three years left on his contract with the Bernabeu club where he won four Champions Leagues, one La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, three Uefa Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
Bale scored three goals and a penalty in a shootout in four Champions League finals for Real as they won the competition in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
However, injury problems limited him to 79 La Liga starts in the past four seasons.
He played 42 matches for Real Madrid last season and was booed by his side’s home supporters at times during the campaign.