Gareth Bale's Agent Says Real Madrid 'Changed Their Minds' About China Transfer

Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, said Real Madrid "changed their minds" about allowing the Welshman to leave for Jiangsu Suning and called the move off.

Per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, Barnett said the Spanish giants had given Bale the go-ahead to negotiate a move to the Chinese Super League club but later reversed their decision when the deal was almost done.

Sources at the club had a different version of events; they told ESPN FC the move fell through because Bale's family decided against it.

BBC Sport's David Ornstein broke the news that Bale's move to China was off on Sunday, with Real said to be responsible:

It's the latest in a long series of ups and downs Bale has endured during his time in the Spanish capital:

Barnett also said a report from Marca that Jiangsu would pay Bale an annual salary of €22 million net was "fake news."

Following the signing of Ivan Santini from Anderlecht on Monday, Jiangsu—who have already brought in Miranda from Inter Milan this summer—have filled their quota of foreign players.

There are three years left on Bale's contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, and letting him move on this summer would save the club in the region of €100 million in wages and taxes, according to Corrigan. However, it is said Real president Florentino Perez is not willing to let Bale leave the club on a free transfer.

While that's understandable, few clubs can afford his salary, let alone do so after paying a fee to sign him. Even wealthy clubs in China have their limits, as they're restricted by a 100 per cent levy on foreign signings that requires them to pay the same total of the transfer fee in taxes.

The winger is a proven match-winner, with 102 goals and 65 assists to his name in 231 appearances for Los Blancos. Given that keeping him will be a costly exercise for the club, Zinedine Zidane may need to rethink his level of involvement for the upcoming season.