Why Manchester United must avoid a move for Gareth Bale at all costs
The Gareth Bale saga has had more twists and turns over the years than any other top-grossing Hollywood movie. The Welshman got his first taste of success at Tottenham Hotspur and he set the Premier League on fire with some incredible displays in front of the goal.
As fate would have had it, Bale then moved to Real Madrid in a high-profile move. What should’ve been a stepping stone to greater achievements ended up being a questionable move in his career thus far.
Although he has won a lot of trophies with Los Blancos, Bale’s individual progress has declined over the years. However, that hasn’t done his reputation any harm. With his mega £600,000-a-week wages, he is undoubtedly one of the highest-earning footballers around. But the one thing that has proven to be a hurdle is the fact that he is immensely injury-prone.
At Real Madrid, there was a time when Bale, alongside Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, had formed a formidable attacking partnership. However, injuries played their role and things have changed a lot since then.
As per a report by The Sun, Manchester United are interested in signing Bale once the transfer window commences in January.
The 30-year-old winger boasts of ample experience and skills, having plied his trade in the Premier League and the La Liga. He has also made his presence felt in the Champions League on numerous occasions. And as far as the Red Devils are concerned, they could utilize an attacker like him to bring about some balance to their young team. That said though, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be better off without the Welshman’s services.
The memories of Alexis Sanchez’s lack of impact at Old Trafford are still fresh. He joined on a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan heading to Arsenal but the major talking point – besides the infamous piano video – was his weekly wages.
Despite pocketing wages in the region of £505,000-a-week, Sanchez flopped embarrassingly for the Red Devils. As a result, he was loaned out to Inter Milan earlier in the summer.
After Sanchez’s ill-fated spell, it would be wise for United to not make the same mistake twice. Bale’s credentials are truly spectacular and he was one of the most fearsome attackers in the Premier League during his time at Tottenham. But considering his never-ending injury woes and whatnot, United would be better off without him. Also, it would make more sense to spend that money elsewhere.
As things stand, United are under major pressure after the 3-3 draw with Sheffield United over the weekend. And the last thing Solskjaer needs is an under-performing player with a huge wage bill.
Thus, regardless of what sweeteners Real Madrid throw in to tempt United, the club must avoid making a move to sign Bale at all costs.
