“Ashley Williams & Gareth Bale” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by joncandy
When Gareth Bale left the Bernabeu to rejoin former club Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid fans may well have thought that they’d seen the last of the Welsh international. Amidst some injury concerns, the winger had been pushed to the margins by Zinedine Zidane and he was an unhappy figure on the sidelines.
A slow start to his second spell in London did nothing to suggest that Bale would be back in La Liga anytime soon. However, a return to form and fitness has proved that the player still has what it takes to compete at the very top.
Bale is Back
When Gareth Bale scored twice in Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on March 7th, he brought his tally to six goals in six games. A previous double against Burnley a week earlier had followed brilliant strikes in the Europa League against Swiss unit Wolfsberger.
As Spurs prepared to face bitter rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby, Bale had scored a healthy 10 goals in 23 matches across all competitions. He was also providing valuable assists for Tottenham’s main striker Harry Kane.
But Gareth Bale’s return to life in England hadn’t enjoyed such a positive start. He arrived nursing an injury and reports suggested that he had lost confidence due to his treatment by Real Madrid. Spurs manager Jose Mourinho had been reluctant to use the player and he was a regular unused substitute – on the sidelines once again.
Happily for everyone involved, Bale is back to form and full fitness but what does this mean for Spurs and his parent club Real Madrid?
Spurs Targets
Gareth Bale must firstly focus on the remainder of the English season as Spurs have plenty to play for. Tottenham look set to reach the last eight of the Europa League and they have an EFL Cup Final to look forward to against Manchester City in April.
With City riding high in the EPL, Spurs’ best chance of silverware may come in the Europa League where the sportsbooks currently make them favourites to win the tournament. According to betting sources linked to sbo.net. Tottenham lead the way at a general 7/2 with English rivals Manchester United and Arsenal close behind at 4/1 and 5/1 respectively.
If Spurs consolidate their 2-0 lead from the first leg against Dinamo Zagreb, those odds may well shorten. Sbo.net will continue to monitor the market and update the figures as the Europa League starts to come to a conclusion. Anyone looking to get involved can consider those prices and they can analyse offers and promotions that will be available via the website. For those looking to make an informed decision, news updates and opinion articles will also be accessible.
A Return to Real?
When the English domestic season comes to a conclusion, Gareth Bale’s loan deal at Spurs will also end. He will be 32 in July and will face something of an uncertain future. Tottenham may be keen to make his switch a permanent one but they are not known for paying the type of transfer fee and high wages that Bale would demand.
Meanwhile, there have been reports claiming that the player wants to return to Madrid and prove his doubters wrong. His love of the club and desire to perform at the highest level are behind those sentiments. Real would then have an issue with the wages of a player who may yet remain on the fringes of their starting XI.
With Gareth Bale’s contract at Real Madrid set to run until 2022, it’s also possible that another loan deal could be agreed. It’s an unsatisfactory move for all concerned but it may be the only solution while that huge contract runs its natural course.
