Real Madrid and Wales star striker Gareth Bale is reportedly considering retiring from professional football if the Wales national team fail to qualify for the FIFA World Cup , Qatar 2022. Currently, Bale has until June 30, 2022, until his contract with Real Madrid expires. And from now on Wales have a play-off against Austria and if they manage to win they will play either Scotland or Ukraine in March.

According to David Ornstein’s report in athleticism, if Wales do not qualify for the Qatar World Cup, Bale will choose to retire from professional football. And if they do manage to qualify for the prestigious tournament, given that he will be club-less this summer, he will most likely be transferred to a Premier League or Championship club. The deal would most likely be short term so he can get some regular playing time ahead of the World Cup. At Madrid, Bale has been out for three months due to injury and it appears the Los Blancos’ hierarchy is unwilling to renew his contract with the club.

Bale had addressed the retirement rumors

Previously, it had been reported that Bale was going to retire, but the Welsh striker responded to those rumors when he was on duty for the national team in September 2021. “I have only just started this year and you are already asking questions questions! I haven’t thought of anything beyond this game (Wales World Cup qualifying vs Belarus) to be honest. I just think of every game as it turns out . I’m just trying to enjoy it. Wales, not just for me but for the country as a whole. I think it would be an amazing experience for the nation, “Bale said, as quoted by Goal.com asked about his intentions to hang up his boots at a press conference in September 2021.

Bale was then asked if he had ever considered retiring from football, and he replied that people made up stories, which he never planned to finish. Bale said he just wanted to focus on the Euro at the time without giving an explanation. He said it was better if he didn’t say anything then because the media would have made a big deal out of it no matter what he said.

“Everyone just seems to make up stories when they want to. I don’t know. They just make up crazy things. I never planned on finishing. Like I said before, I just wanted to focus on the euros and I don’t have to explain myself. I didn’t need it. I still don’t feel the need, and I think no matter what I said I was going to do, whether it was stay, go , to retire, whatever, it would’ve caused a big story. A boring story and a distracting story. So I think for me, it was better to say nothing and just try to focus on the work at hand, “he said. stated Bale, quoted by Goal.com.

Image: AP