With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale is said to have offered himself to Barcelona.
The Welsh winger is leaving under bittersweet circumstances after a difficult end to his eight-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He has had a successful career in Madrid, winning the UEFA Champions League four times and the La Liga title twice, but he has also experienced increased criticism in recent seasons.
Bale's turbulent relationship with Madrid has led him to offer his services to fierce rivals Barcelona, according to madrid-barcelona.com (via El Nacional).
Barca may also be looking for a new winger, as Ousmane Dembele is expected to leave as a free agent this summer. Xavi, on the other hand, is said to be uninterested in the Welshman.
According to AS (via CaughtOffside), the Frenchman has decided to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), paving the way for Bale's arrival at the Nou Camp.
However, given their bitter rivalry, the possibility of Bale joining Barcelona from Madrid is intriguing.
Bale has only made four La Liga appearances this season for Real Madrid, scoring one goal in the process.
Last week, he guided Wales to a 2-1 victory over Austria in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier Playoff, scoring a spectacular free-kick in the process.
Is it possible that Gareth Bale may leave Real Madrid for Barcelona?
Bale's willingness to join Blaugrana is surprising, given the difficulties he is now facing in Spain.
In their appraisal of his final season at Real Madrid, Spanish tabloid Marca painted a caustic picture of the 32-year-old, calling him a "parasite."
Bale responded to the report by citing the mental toll that such a piece can have on players. It seems implausible that the Welshman would choose to remain in a country where he is continually chastised by the media.
Many teams, notably Newcastle United, are set to offer Bale a way out of his difficult situation in Spain.
Rivaldo, a Brazilian legend and former Barcelona forward, believes the Madrid winger will return to the Premier League and sees Newcastle United as the ideal destination for him.
According to The Sun (via TeamTalk), he told Betfair: "I wouldn't rule out relocating to Newcastle." Because I believe they have a chance to persuade him to return to the top level as one of the team's stars next season, in what is expected to be a very exciting group."
As the 32-year-old looks forward to a future away from Real Madrid, it will be interesting to see where Bale ends up.
blogpay
