Gareth Bale has decided to hang up his boots in the world of football. Even if six months ago he was still determined to play until 2026.
He said this when he decided to join Los Angeles FC last July 2022. At the time, he denied that the move was just to maintain fitness ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
“I’m still 32, I’ll be 33 soon and I’m still a few years older. I didn’t just come here for 6-12 months, I tried to stay as long as possible,” said Bale. at the time, quoted by Sky Sports.
“Being here gives me the best chance of making it to the European Championships (2024) and you never know, maybe another tournament later, that’s my goal. I’m here to play an important role,” said Bale.
The expression above implies that Bale is determined to keep playing to take Wales to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States. But over time, the reality on the ground is difficult to realize.
Bale led LAFC to win Major League Soccer 2022 and also scored a goal in the final. But during his four months there, he only appeared 13 times, and even then only started twice.
Bale is also difficult to play for the full 90 minutes. When he started, he only played an average of about 60 minutes. Meanwhile, when he came on as a substitute, his average playing time did not reach 25 minutes.
Dance performance together Wales even at the 2022 World Cup it’s not exactly satisfying. He scored only one goal during the tournament and failed to win a single victory.
His last competitive match came against England. Bale played just 45 minutes and was substituted early in the second half. Wales then lost 0-3 and had to lift the suitcase from Qatar. He hasn’t played since.
Over the past three years, Bale’s career hasn’t been as bright as it once was. Injuries and problems off the pitch meant he was no longer first choice at Real Madrid.
His loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur in the 2020/21 season revived his career, in which he scored 16 goals in 34 games. However, Spurs were reluctant to make his status permanent and he eventually reverted to being a reserve at Madrid until his contract expired in June 2022.
After playing briefly in MLS, Bale is now hanging up his boots, a decision he says has been “carefully thought out and considered”.
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