Should Gareth Bale Consider Returning to the Premier League?
It has been a week to forget for Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti's La Liga title hopes were severely dented after a 2-2 draw with Valencia over the weekend, and a midweek clash with Juventus in the UEFA Champions League saw his outfit eliminated from the competitionโlosing 3-2 on aggregate.
While certainly not the only reason for Madrid's recent troubles, the world's most expensive footballer, Gareth Bale, has taken his fair share of criticism.
Tasked with living up to a ยฃ85.3 million transfer fee, Bale's first season in the Spanish capital was a relative success.ย Producing 22 goals and 19 assists in 44 appearances, Bale was directly responsible for 26 percent of Madrid's 2013/14 offensive output (only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo's 44 percent).
If stats are great, trophies are better.
The Welshman played a key role in Real's double last seasonโscoring go-ahead goals in the Copa del Rey final vs. Barcelona and vs. Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final's extra session.
It seemed, for all the hype surrounding football's most expensive player, Bale had settled well into Madrid's setup.
Having no World Cup obligation, Bale had a complete summer to rest, recover and continue his Spanish acclimation process, but things have not exactly translated this season. Though still a world-class talent, the 25-year-old has become more Madrid's scapegoat than anythingโthis week's poor run of results only highlighting hisย predicament.
If Real win, Bale will forever play second fiddle to Ronaldo; if Madrid lose, Bale is an easy outlet (due to hisย exorbitantย cost) for supporter and team-mate frustration.
Frustrationย fuels media speculationโasย exemplifiedย by theย Daily Mail's Rob Shepherd.
Shepherd reports papers in Spain suggest Madrid "could be willing to offload [Bale], even though manager Carlo Ancelotti has said he wants the winger to remain at the club."
Manchesterย United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all linked with the Welsh attacker.ย Understandingย why the richest clubs in England would want to sign arguably the best right-winger in the world is not too difficult.
Bale would enter any starting XI in the world and improve its odds at winning trophies, which makes his troubles at the Santiago Bernabeu all the more curious. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is known to love high-profile superstars at his club, so selling the 25-year-old after just two seasons seems rather quick-triggered.
The ยฃ85 million man told Sky Sports after Madrid's Champions League elimination:
"There have been some ups and downs, but personally I think I've played well.
I've maybe not scored as many important chances as I'd like, but my general play has been good. My finishing is not as good and that's something to work on for next year.
What doesn't kill me makes me stronger and I'll learn from this season and take it on.
"
It appears Bale sees his future in Madrid, and for good reason; Los Blancos are the world's largest club, so leaving could be interpreted as defeat.
English clubs will forever be interested in the former Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur man, but Bale should not be too tempted. In four seasons, the then-29-year-old will have mastered the art of being a Madrid star and should garner respect from supporters and team-mates alike.
The easiest option for Bale is returning to England, taking his place with United, City or Chelsea, polishing his 2013/14 UEFA Champions League winner's medal every once in a while and calling his Spanish vacation a success, but it would not be.
To establish himself as a great, Bale should do as his quote suggests, "learn from this season and take it on," but in Madridโleaving a return to the Premier League for a potential victory lap.
*Stats viaย WhoScored.com; transfer fees viaย Soccerbase.comย where not noted.
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