Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale says he’s intent on winning trophies with the Galacticos despite reports linking him with a return to the Premier League.
Wales’ talisman has had multiple success with Real Madrid since joining in 2013 but an injury-ravaged season has cast his future at Real Madrid into doubt.
Cardiff’s greatest export signed a deal that would see him remain in the Spanish capital until 2022, meaning that a departure from the club would always seem unlikely unless a club were willing to pay a hefty fee for his services.
Bale who was speaking to MARCA said that the reports are just common practice having seen the same thing happen to David Beckham, he is not actively seeking a return to England.
“The truth is that I do not read any of that. Logically I am a British player and I am always linked with a return home.
“It happened with Beckham, with other Englishmen who came to Spain. Nothing new. I am happy playing in Madrid, logically interest is interest, but if there has been nothing concrete, no offer, there is nothing to discuss.”
A re-occurring ankle injury was what affected the former Tottenham Hotspur wingers season and now he is looking to make sure that this season he is at his best as he looks to overcome the injury.
“Well, until January everything went very well for me. It was bad luck, you cannot avoid these injuries in football, when you knock your ankle. It was very hard, but the most important thing is that we won titles and very important ones.”
“I have not put much intensity into the area, so as to recover well. Last year with the pain I found it difficult to get in shape. I worked hard to recover and now I can do the pre-season fully.
“Last year it bothered me, because you always try to come back to help the team, and give the best of yourself. Maybe I should have been recovering longer and not forcing, but now there is no pain. I have strength in my ankle and I am ready.”
With the form of Marco Asensio and Isco also a reason why Bale was forced to see his playing time reduced.
Bale was forced to take a place on the bench in the Champions League final in his hometown back in June. The former most expensive player in world football has welcomed the competition though and says it is a team effort.
“I play for the best team in the world, to win the maximum number of trophies. We all want to play and we all work hard to win our places, but this is not 11 players. Zidane wants to keep rotating and will give options for everyone.
“I think the most important thing is to think that we all will win. I think in previous seasons we did well in LaLiga or in the Champions League, but in the last campaign we won both thanks to the rotations, it gave us a lot of freshness, it’s a great method of working because the players have time to recover. It’s good, in football now everyone has to contribute.”
The 28 year-old is closing in on Wales’ all time record goal scorer and could achieve it before the Dragon’s World Cup qualifying campaign is over but Bale is hopeful that he will be able to showcase his talents at next years showpiece event in Russia.
“We have four games left and we are four points from the top, we are still there, and while there are options we will fight to the end, but it will not be easy. We measure ourselves with the ones above and we will also need luck.”
(Featured Image: Same Old Smith)