Bale retires at 33
Discussion
ChocolateFrog said:
He could have cleaned up in the sandpit like Ronaldo if he'd have wanted.
Got out with most of his dignity intact. Incredible career really. He must be in a select group having 5 CL titles to his name.
But surely at 33 you want to play football still? Some of the legends of the game play for local teams now.Got out with most of his dignity intact. Incredible career really. He must be in a select group having 5 CL titles to his name.
I expect all that time on Madrids bench wore him down mentally.
O.S.H. said:
Well done GB, leaving before a decline into 'just taking the money' from foreign interests.
That's exactly what he's been doing at RM these last few years.They wanted him gone but he was happy to sit on the bench with his fat contract rather than move on for more games on a lower wage
V8covin said:
O.S.H. said:
Well done GB, leaving before a decline into 'just taking the money' from foreign interests.
That's exactly what he's been doing at RM these last few years.They wanted him gone but he was happy to sit on the bench with his fat contract rather than move on for more games on a lower wage
I imagine many top players would relish the chance to be part of a mega-club, such as Real Madrid, training and playing with the best of the best when the opportunity arises?
Moving on now, is a smart move and I trust GB has another plan for his future, albeit not running a Public House?
V8covin said:
O.S.H. said:
Well done GB, leaving before a decline into 'just taking the money' from foreign interests.
That's exactly what he's been doing at RM these last few years.They wanted him gone but he was happy to sit on the bench with his fat contract rather than move on for more games on a lower wage
In any case he was an unbelievable player for them for a good few years.
Seems like a positive decision for him. Why keep playing if your body isn’t going to hold up. Some people are natural athletes/robust, others aren’t. No point being richer than god and half your joints being knackered.
Edited by Dingu on Monday 9th January 18:57
He was great as a Saints player although not many goals from left back. Not sure we predicted 5 champions leagues for him including an overhead kick in the final....... He may have not realised every bit of talent he had, but I for one would give an awful lot to score that overhead kick in a final
Bale is an interesting one for me. Absolutely brilliant player, and if he'd been able to stay injury free after Wales' run at Euro 2016, I'm certain he'd have rivalled Messi and Ronaldo for the Ballon D'Or. But injury, his attitude and Real's treatment of him ruined what should've been the prime of his career. He's been acting like a sulking wash up since then.
Fortunately for us fans he had Wales, so we could still see him at his best. But he looked so unfit and poor at the World Cup. It's fascinating that he put he so clearly put his country before club, but I think he paid for that when it came to looking for new clubs. He fits into the Wayne Rooney mould of footballer. Absolutely brilliant player, but could have been so much more.
Michael
Fortunately for us fans he had Wales, so we could still see him at his best. But he looked so unfit and poor at the World Cup. It's fascinating that he put he so clearly put his country before club, but I think he paid for that when it came to looking for new clubs. He fits into the Wayne Rooney mould of footballer. Absolutely brilliant player, but could have been so much more.
Michael
Fantastic footballer and it’s a shame he has retired early.
His first few seasons at Real where fantastic but then signed that stupidly large deal, kept picking up injuries and his love of golf turned the Real fans. In the end they hated him and wanted him gone.
It’s an odd one for me as fair enough they signed the contract and your owed the money, but was happy to sit on the bench and pickup a wage rather than go and play games.
His first few seasons at Real where fantastic but then signed that stupidly large deal, kept picking up injuries and his love of golf turned the Real fans. In the end they hated him and wanted him gone.
It’s an odd one for me as fair enough they signed the contract and your owed the money, but was happy to sit on the bench and pickup a wage rather than go and play games.
Real Madrid
La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
Copa del Rey: 2013–14
Supercopa de España: 2017
UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
UEFA Super Cup: 2014,2016, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2017, 2018
Including some phenomenal goals in huge games. What a player.
When all the dust settles on Bales career, i'm sure even the Madrid fans will look back in admiration of what he achieved and remember him fondly.
La Liga: 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
Copa del Rey: 2013–14
Supercopa de España: 2017
UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
UEFA Super Cup: 2014,2016, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2017, 2018
Including some phenomenal goals in huge games. What a player.
When all the dust settles on Bales career, i'm sure even the Madrid fans will look back in admiration of what he achieved and remember him fondly.
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