Luka Modric hopeful 'important' Gareth Bale will remain a Real Madrid player
Luka Modric wants Gareth Bale to stay at Real Madrid for another two years as Wales' superstar fights to win over Zinedine Zidane.
Bale looks to be heading out of Spain due to Zidane's increasingly bizarre treatment of him. The Real Madrid manager made no secret of wishing to offload Bale last summer, and although the 30-year-old forced his way back into the side, tensions resurfaced when the Welshman was snubbed in the recent Champions League group game against Club Brugge.
But Modric, a close pal of Bale, is eager for his teammate to remain with the La Liga giants.
"Of course. I think he is an amazing player and very important for the team,” said Modric. "He is showing that this season. Hopefully he will stay this season and the next seasons as well.”
Modric was on the wrong side of Bale’s brilliance as the Welshman secured a point for his country in the 1-1 draw with Croatia on Sunday night.
It was another reminder of Bale’s world class ability, and more proof - as if it is needed - his treatment by Zidane is more to do with politics and finances than football judgement. Real have been trying to offload some of their highest paid stars in order to fund their next ‘Galactico’ spending spree and having hit 30, the PR tricks have been in full flow to try to alienate Bale and force him out.
But Madrid’s voodoo economic policy, splashing out on contracts which on the surface seem unsustainable, has caught up with them.
Bale earns an eye-watering £600,000 a week in Spain, which means although virtually every club would like him, none with any business acumen would purchase a player in his 30s at such a hefty cost.
That is why his most likely departure gate will fly him to China, where he looked to be heading to last summer for double his salary. Madrid scuppered that deal when it became apparent their alternative transfer targets could not be secured.
It means Bale’s return to the first team under Zidane seems a temporary truce, although given Real’s indifferent form - especially in Europe - it remains to be seen if the Frenchman’s second spell as coach will last the season. It is feasible Bale will be at the Bernabeu longer than Zidane.
Modric is sure there will be a Madrid revival in the Champions League after a defeat and draw in their opening group games.
"We are good enough to overcome this bad start and qualify for the next round,” said Modric. “It's still the beginning of the competition but we have a few more games left.”
