Madrid is half empty because on Tuesday there is a bank holiday in the Spanish capital but the press conference room at Santiago Bernabéu stadium was full. It was a big day for Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez because the president got a deal with the star Gareth Bale to extend his contract until 2022. The agreement was announced on Sunday, after the victory over Alavés but the Welshman spoke in front of the journalist on Monday.
After Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez, now it was the turn of Gareth Bale. Only the Portuguese players Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe haven’t extended their contract yet and they are suppose to do it in the following days. Especially the defender, whose contract ends at the end of the season.
Bale spoke in English in the press conference because after three years he is still unable to speak Spanish although he is very happy in Spain and he’s never thought about leaving the city: “I’ve never been interested in anything from outside. I’m happy in Madrid and we’ve never spoken about these things”, he said about the interest of Manchester United.
Gareth Bale is still young but he’ll finish his contract with Real Madrid in 2022 and the retirement would be closer: “Of course I can see myself ending my career at Real Madrid. I improve my Spanish and my family is very settled. I don’t know when I will be retiring but I want to stay these six years more at Real Madrid”.
It wasn’t easy for him at the beginning: “It’s hard for British players to leave. I lived some tough moments, but I’ve enjoyed the good and the bad experiences. I’m happy and I feel the supporters love me”. He also said he has made the right decisions: “I’m in the best club in the world. When there is a chance of playing here, you cannot waste it. I took the right decision. I want to continue winning titles and Madrid offers me that. This is a club with the same expectations as I have”.
Bale has also remembered which was the best moment for him: “Winning the Champions League for this club is the maximum. We love the Champions and so the supporters. It was amazing winning both. In the bad moments it’s very easy to pick your stuff and leave somewhere else, but the good thing is fighting”, Bale said. He will have time to fight six years more with Real Madrid.
