La Liga
Gareth Bale 'offered' to Getafe, claims club president
Gareth Bale could prolong his club career in the unlikely confines of the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Getafe president Angel Torres claimed the Welsh attacker was offered to the Madrid-based club during Wednesday’s launch of next season’s kits. “Anything is possible,” Torres said of Getafe signing the former Real Madrid star on a free transfer, according to The Guardian’s Sid Lowe.
“People might take it as a joke, but about 45-50 minutes ago, I spoke to his representative, and they have offered him to us,” a smiling Torres told the presenter of the kit launch.
Getafe’s apparent discussions regarding Bale’s transfer come amid Cardiff City’s reported efforts to recruit the 32-year-old. A return to Tottenham Hotspur and a move to Major League Soccer have also been mooted.
Torres didn’t specify whether the representative he spoke with was Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett or somebody else, but he insisted the presenter of the event didn’t fabricate Getafe’s links.
“I had seen it mentioned last night on TV, the reasons why he wants to stay were looked into, the possibility of him (wanting) to come to Getafe,” he said. “I have to turn it over (in my mind) and speak to the coach (Quique Sanchez Flores), who is away.”
Getafe’s Coliseum Alfonso Perez is a 20-minute drive from Bale’s home, Lowe reports. Bale is also desperate to stay match fit while Wales prepares to compete in its first World Cup since 1958 later this year.
The Azulones attracted an average attendance of under 9,000 while finishing 15th in La Liga last season. They’ve never won a major honor, but they finished atop Group 1 of the Segunda Division B in 1999.
Bale had a difficult relationship with Real Madrid supporters despite collecting five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, three Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and one winner’s medal apiece in the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana over nine years with the club.
Bale confirmed his Real Madrid “dream” was over last Wednesday.