Real Madrid news: Asensio is making Bale expendable
Marco Asensio continues his rapid development which is increasingly eroding the Welshman’s place in the team.
According to reports, Gareth Bale could return to Tottenham Hotspur due to becoming surplus to requirements at Real Madrid because of the young talent in the team. Last season saw two players start to prove their worth for Los Blancos. Isco finally fulfilled his world-class potential as the playmaker in the team; Asensio showed his ability to act as the game-changer from the bench.
Bale’s time at the club has been hampered by injuries and marked by generally poor performances in big games. This has meant that he hasn’t exactly become a fan favourite at the club. The fans are notoriously fickle with jeers and whistles aimed at the team being common at home games. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a return to the Premier League where he initially gained his world-class reputation.
Over the summer he was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United as José Mourinho expressed his admiration on multiple occasions. However, Zinedine Zidane was keen to keep him at the club, so a deal never materialised.
The continued rise of Asensio means that Zidane’s position on Bale is likely to change, though, if it hasn’t already. His high wages and the transfer fee that they could get for him means that a move is likely. Real are currently embarking on a regeneration of the squad by bringing in young Spanish talent. Asensio represents the start of that with Dani Ceballos and Theo Hernández being other examples. Their desire to have the next big talents in world football means that Bale is likely to be the next casualty in order to facilitate that.
Potential suitors
Bale would be the ideal for Spurs because he could be their game-changer when they need a spark of individual brilliance in a tight game with another big team. However, the current status of their project doesn’t fit well with a potential move. The building of the new stadium means that funds are limited and they have a clear wage structure.
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A move for him presents more questions than answers. How would he fit into the team? Would they change the wage structure for him? Is he worth the significant transfer fee that he would command? His age and his injury-prone nature makes him a potentially risky transfer. For a team that focuses on developing academy players and having a young core, a move for Bale seems at odds with the club’s principles.
Moving to Manchester United makes a lot more sense. They have the money to easily afford his wages and his transfer fee. Mourinho is clearly a fan of him with his comments before the European Super Cup clearly showing this. Bale would suit the counter-attacking style that the Portuguese manager favours because of his speed, dribbling ability and his willingness to track back. The team also has a clear hole for him to fill on the right side from where he could cut in on to his favoured left foot.
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Chelsea are another option because of their interest in the summer. He could play on the right side of the forward trio alongside Álvaro Morata and Eden Hazard. His ability to hold the ball up or stretch the defence with runs in behind would make him a useful asset. However, the likelihood of Antonio Conte not staying in the long run and the ability of the Red Devils to offer bigger wages makes them the favourites.