GARETH SALE! Bale dominates Spain’s sport pages with Real Madrid star ‘heading to China’

'Gareth leaves' | Front page of AS this morning
Ben Hayward22 July 2019

Spain’s sports papers and sections were dominated on Monday morning by the news that Gareth Bale is about to leave Real Madrid.

“GARETH SALE,” said AS on their front page in a headline which would work in English too, but actually means “Gareth leaves” in Spanish.

AS added that negotiations were “very advanced” for the winger to transfer to a Chinese club and on their cover, Marca featured a photograph of Bale being substituted by coach Zinedine Zidane. “Heading to China,” it read.

Inside, AS said “The Bale case explodes” in another piece which looked at Zidane’s quotes on Saturday, in which he spoke of an “imminent exit” for the 30-year-old. It claimed two clubs, Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan, were competing for his signature.

“Bale’s exit is essential for the arrival of [Paul] Pogba,” an additional article said, adding that “the Frenchman will inherit his wages”.

A further text focused on the positives in the Welshman’s six seasons in Spain. “14 titles and 5 goals in finals,” it read, but also highlighted the “22 injuries” he has suffered since signing from Tottenham in 2013.

“End point,” Marca said inside their Monday edition, with additional pieces looking at the quotes of Zidane on Saturday night and the response of Bale's agent on Sunday.

“It’s nothing personal. If Bale leaves tomorrow, [even] better,” the first said after the coach’s words in Houston. “Zidane is a disgrace,” Jonathan Barnett’s riposte the following day, also featured, along with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino’s claim that “I don’t know if we are negotiating to sign Bale.”

In Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo drew attention to a reported Madrid offer to Paris Saint-Germain: “€90 million and Bale for Neymar.”

In Pictures | Gareth Bale at Real Madrid

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“Bale’s agent knows nothing of a possible swap with Neymar,” Sport said, adding in another piece that the winger “has the chance to become the best-paid player in China”.

“Total offensive against Bale,” El Pais said, focusing on Madrid’s efforts to ship out their €100m signing. And El Mundo added: “Gareth Bale negotiates his imminent exit with a Chinese club.”

And with the winger no longer on speaking terms with his coach, Mundo Deportivo spoke of “Gareth Bale’s cold goodbye”, claiming the 30-year-old was “never in harmony with the Madrid fans”.

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