Pictured in the shadows is Real Madrid’s most expensive player who is of Welsh origins. Gareth Bale joined Madrid from Tottenham in a deal worth £85.3m. He made an instant impact in his first season by helping Real Madrid win the La Decima (10th UEFA Champions League) in 2014. He has since been plagued by injuries including his calf which has recurred for many years. This season he has been a bit part player and has often been called off the bench to see through matches with his direct runs. Bale has basically been replaced by Spanish wonderkid Asensio, Isco and Vazquez have been preferred ahead of him. Questions are raised towards his future because his lightning pace does not seem as that much of an asset the club needed when they brought him in.

In all fairness, Bale is a threat when he is fully fit but the problem with him is that he has become injury prone. His fitness concerns do not add value to a big club like Madrid who invested a lot in him which has led to their decision to sell him in the summer as according to Guillem Balague. The Spanish football expert says that the winger is edging closer to a Premier League return after falling down in the pecking order in Zidane’s team. English teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City have the finances to carry out this deal and will be on alert. Some rumors of a move to Bayern have also surfaced and this could be a more sensible move for the Welshman as he will be a long-term replacement for the aging Arjen Robben on the right. However, it is a doubt that Bayern would fork out hundreds of millions of pounds on a player like him. We just have to wait and see what the summer brings. How do you see Bale fitting in your team of choice? We want to know where he will be playing and who he will be replacing in the Starting XI.