To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders
Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications
Published
| Last updated
Gareth Bale is planning to retire from club football next summer but still wants to play for Wales at the 2022 World Cup.
BREAKING: Gareth Bale is set to retire from club football
[@JamesNursey] pic.twitter.com/XZO0UvgLgw
- Marathonbet (@marathonbet) July 6, 2021
Wales' captain and record scorer Bale is on holiday after leading his country to the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
He is due to return to Madrid later this month where he has one year remaining on his whopping £600,000-a-week contract.
Bale, who is celebrating his 32nd birthday next week, aims to see through his final 12 months on his contract now that Carlo Ancelotti has replaced Zinedine Zidane, who cast him out.
The Welshman, who spent last year on loan at Spurs, has told friends he does not intend to sign for another club next summer when he will be a free agent.
With the 2022 World Cup set to be shown in Qatar next winter, Bale is set to continue playing international football or his treasured Wales if they qualify.
:flag_black: "I don't know if Bale will retire."
"You don't realise, until you finish, that you can't play football anymore!"
:eyes: "You shouldn't retire football until football retire you! Once its over, it's over."
Dean Saunders reacts to Gareth Bale possibly retiring from #WAL. pic.twitter.com/I8KJaUr2Ix
- talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 28, 2021
Wales are set to play Belarus and Estonia in September as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
It seems the possibility of representing his country in a World Cup will be enough to keep Bale interested, a ploy that Wales will no doubt be happy with as he has scored 33 goals in 96 caps.
Bale, a four-time Champions League winner, recently said in an interview following Wales' exit from Euro 2020 that he will play for Wales until the day I stop playing football."
Topics: gareth bale, Wales, Real Madrid