'Gareth Bale Is A Busted Flush... His Career As An Elite Footballer Has Been And Gone'

Gareth Bale's career as an elite footballer has 'been and gone' and he can no longer play a key role at a Premier League club, according to Simon Jordan.

The 32-year-old will leave Real Madrid at the end of this month and he'll be available as a free agent.

Bale is keen to keep his fitness levels up ahead of the World Cup this winter, but Jordan thinks it can't be in a significant role if he returns to England.

He told talkSPORT: "He's [Bale] a busted flush. He isn’t a Premier League acquisition anymore. He's a pay and play deal. You can play him in individual games but you can't play him in a series of games. If someone's going to take him..."

The Wales international returned to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan in 2020 and scored 11 goals in 20 league games.

A permanent deal couldn't be sorted and he returned to Real, barely playing a part in this campaign.

He still featured enough to get his hands on another La Liga and Champions League medal however.

Bale has been linked with a move to Championship outfit Cardiff City, but Jordan is unsure he'd be able to handle the fixture list.

The former Crystal Palace owner continued: "People talk about him going to Newcastle [United]. It's a sideshow for Newcastle.

"Gareth Bale’s career as an elite footballer has been and gone now. The last thing that goes with a boxer is his punch.

"He'll still be able to do individual games but you can't put him into the domestic game. The Championship will be even harder than the Premier League."

Wales qualified for the World Cup earlier this month after a 1-0 playoff final win over Ukraine.

Andriy Yarmolenko turned into his own net from a Bale free-kick to send Robert Page's side to the finals for the first time in 64 years.

"I haven't really looked at everything yet," Bale said when discussing his future in a press conference. "I have options. I don't have a timescale.

"I know possible destinations but it's something I need to sit down, first and foremost with my family, and then I need to speak with managers and physios and decide what's the best move for me, my family and my kids."