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Barcelona, Atletico Madrid 'in contention to sign Real Madrid's Gareth Bale'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 18 April 2022

Barcelona, Atletico 'in contention to sign Gareth Bale'

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid reportedly emerge as contenders to sign Gareth Bale when his Real Madrid contract expires in the summer.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are supposedly in competition to take Gareth Bale off of Real Madrid's hands this summer.

The Wales international is confirmed to be leaving Los Blancos at the end of his existing contract, ending his controversy-filled nine-year stint in the Spanish capital.

Bale's next career move remains shrouded in uncertainty, but Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City have both emerged as the bookies' favourites to sign the 32-year-old.

However, journalist Juanfe Sanz has claimed that Bale is instead pining for a move to another La Liga club, telling El Chiringuito: "One of his options is that of retirement, but there is a World Cup ahead and Wales has to play a phase to qualify.

"Gareth Bale, as we know, is in love with the Spanish climate and golf, and he is considering staying in Spain next season to play in the La Liga. It would not be at Real Madrid.

"I'm not authorised to say the name of the clubs, but you don't have to think about it too much to find out which clubs Bale could play for. They don't rule out either FC Barcelona or Atletico de Madrid. There is another possibility, which is the one that the footballer likes least, which is to leave Spain."

Bale has only scored one goal in seven matches across all competitions for Real Madrid this season and has won four Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles at the Santiago Bernabeu.