Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is set to sign for MLS side Los Angeles FC; he is looking to maintain his fitness ahead of Wales’ appearance at the 2022 World Cup; follow the summer transfer window on Sky Sports News and across the Sky Sports app and website
While Bale’s transfer to the US may come as a surprise to some. To those in the Wales set-up, this will not be a shock.
During the last international camp, Bale, Rob Page and anyone else within the set-up were quizzed about a potential transfer to Cardiff City. They didn’t play down the chance, but they were also just being polite and respectful.
It would have been a huge risk for Bale to take even a short contract to play in the Championship, the risk of being injured either through a mistimed tackle or just the attritional wear and tear of one of the toughest leagues in the world was, in my opinion, never on the cards.
Take emotion out of Bale playing for Cardiff City prior to the World Cup and it did not become too much of a possibility.
Even before the rumours of a move to Cardiff City started to gather some pace, a transfer to the MLS was already being mooted. Bale needs to get the balance of playing, getting match fit, while reducing the risk of injury and the MLS should provide that balance.
It also gives Bale the perfect environment to get himself into the right shape to lead Wales at the World Cup come November. The climate in terms of weather in California will be ideal, but it is also an ideal climate for him and his family to live and work in a degree of anonymity. The irony of working for a club in Los Angeles, a city where showbiz reigns supreme, is that not too many people will bother Bale or necessarily even know who he is. He will enjoy not being the centre of attention.