MLS outfit D.C. United have reportedly opened talks with the representatives of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale over a possible summer transfer.
According to the Washington Post’s Steven Goff, Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale could end up in the United States of America this summer as Major League Soccer franchise D.C. United are interested in signing the 32-year-old.
Bale is currently in his ninth year at Real Madrid, having signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013. The Welsh international has achieved great success at the Santiago Bernabeu over the years, playing an integral role in their UEFA Champions League triumphs under Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane.
However, a falling out with Zidane in recent years has rendered him persona non-grata at the club, while his unrelenting injury problems also have taken a toll on his career. Buth Bale continues to show up for the Wales national team and has led them to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar towards the end of this year.
Bale spent the last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur and had a fairly solid season. Back at Real Madrid, he has again been sparingly used by Ancelotti and with his contract running down at the end of the season an exit is inevitable.
A return to Tottenham has been mooted, while there have been shock links to the Lilywhites’ north London rivals Arsenal. Now the MLS has presented itself as a possible destination for the 32-year-old Bale, with D.C. United interested in signing him up on a Bosman deal.
The update from Steven Goff claims that the MLS club had been in talks with Bale’s representatives six months ago, but it led to nothing. However, talks have resumed now, and the two parties are exchanging proposals as they look to work out an arrangement for the Welsh wing-wizard to move to Washington D.C.
D.C. United have been on the lookout for a third Designated Player to add to their squad and see Bale as a viable option. To that end, they are even willing to hand him a much better contract than the one they had given former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney. Whether Bale is receptive to their offers or decides to stay put in Europe, where AC Milan are also keen, remains to be seen.