Gareth Bale could continue playing in Madrid after offering to play for Getafe, according to the club’s president, Ángel Torres. Significant doubts remains over his claim and he said no decision had been made, but on Wednesday Torres announced that he had just spoken to the Welshman’s agent and that “anything is possible”. Getafe’s Coliseum Alfonso Pérez ground, just to the south of the city, is a 20-minute drive from Bale’s home.
During an event to launch Getafe’s kits for next season, Torres was asked by the presenter if Bale could play for the club. Smiling, he looked at his watch and said: “People might take it as a joke but about 45, 50 minutes ago, I spoke to his representative and they have offered him to us.”
Torres did not clarify whom he had spoken to, did not mention Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett by name, and something about the scene felt staged, while the decision to speak so publicly and swiftly was unusual. After the exchange, the event moved on. But Torres insisted: “It is not something invented by Roberto [Gómez, the presenter]”. He continued: “I had seen it mentioned last night on TV, the reasons why he wants to stay were looked into, the possibility of him [wanting] to come to Getafe. I have to turn it over [in my mind] and speak to the coach, who is away.”
Torres was then asked what kind of deal it would be, whether Bale would be paid on a game-by-game basis, to which he replied, shrugging and laughing: “I don’t know if he is going to come …” The presenter said: “But it is a possibility?” Torres responded: “Yes, look, all good footballers are a possibility. I can come up with anything. As I say: he was offered, I listened politely and from there I will consult with the sporting director and the coach and anything is possible.”
Bale is a free agent, his Real Madrid contract expiring this summer. After Wales qualified for the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine last Sunday, he was asked whether his retirement had been postponed. “For a while,” he shot back. His camp have begun looking into options, having previously put that on hold. Getafe’s coach is the former Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores.
Apart from a loan at Tottenham, Bale has lived in Spain for nine years, having joined Real Madrid in 2013, winninng five European Cups. Settled in Spain, he lives to the west of the city with his wife and three children.
