GARETH BALE was reportedly rejected by an MLS club due to eye-watering wage demands.
The Welshman has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Los Blancos but his £650,000-a-week wages mean that few clubs can afford him.
Gareth Bale was reportedly “rejected by an MLS club due to his staggering wage packet”
Bale’s current contract does not come to an end until 2022 and Zidane was desperate to flog the Welsh star in 2019, but a £1m-a-week move to Jiangsu Suning fell through late in the day.
The 30-year-old was subsequently re-integrated into the first-team in Madrid but the injury-prone superstar has struggled to make much of an impact – scoring just three goals and assisting a further two in 18 appearances this term.
According to the Athletic, Bale was offered to an MLS side in the Eastern Conference but his staggering wage packet proved to be a stumbling block.
However his agent Jonathan Barnett swiftly rebuked the claim telling ESPN that it was “rubbish” that Bale had been offered anywhere.
This comes less than a month after the Real ace spoke highly of the United States’ top-flight.
He told the Hat Trick Podcast: “I like it. It’s a league on the rise and continues to grow.
“I would definitely be interested.”
Newcastle, soon to have mega-millions if the Saudi takeover goes ahead, also have been linked.
The Wales star has been determined to remain in the Spanish capital despite his strained relationship with Zidane.
In January Bale’s agent claimed he will see out his contract until at the Bernabeu until 2022.
Barnett, speaking at the Association of Football Agents meeting in London, said: “He’s got another two-and-a-half years left on his contract, and he’s fine.
“He will be there, everything will be fine.
“That’s what I’ve always said. I’ve never deviated from that.”
Spanish football has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic and a whole host of top talent are expected to be flogged in the summer.
Recent reports claim that Real must offload at least five of the club’s top earners in order to splash out in the next transfer window, as there will be a total of 37 players in their squad following the return of numerous loanees.
The club was said to be considering allowing the Welsh marksman to leave for free just to get his mega-bucks wages off the books.
He has also been linked with a return to Tottenham, as well as joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s revolution at Manchester United.
But despite doubts over Bale and several other players’ futures, Zizou is said to have reassured them when they returned to training last week.
He told the aces: “I’m going to need you all” as they still harbour hopes of completing the double.
Bale joined from Spurs in 2013 for £86m and has won four Champions League titles during his time at the Bernabeu.
Bale recreates iconic Champions League final goal in living room as Real Madrid star attempts ‘2.6 Challenge’ for NHS
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
