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Gareth Bale ‘s first choice of club remains Manchester United by some distance, if the Champions League match-winner were to leave Real Madrid this summer – although there is now much more doubt over whether the Premier League side would do a deal.
The 28-year-old offered what looked the ultimate parting gift by winning the European Cup final against Liverpool with two goals , one of them among the greatest ever seen in the fixture, before then admitting he has to consider his future after a season where he has been in and out of the side.
Bale only started the final in Kyiv as a substitute, before winning the game with an overhead kick .
Champions League final: The story of the game - in picturesShow all 37 1 /37Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The Champions League trophy
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The opening ceremony to the final
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Andriy Shevchenko unveils the Champions League trophy
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dua Lipa during her performance before kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final The two teams line up ahead of kick-off
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final An injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on from the sidelines
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's starting XI
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid's starting XI
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool fans get into the swing of things
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Trent Alexander-Arnold is put under pressure from Marcelo
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a chance
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal before it was disallowed for offside
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Mohamed Salah leaves the pitch in tears due to injury
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Dani Carvajal leaves the pitch in tears due to injury
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Keylor Navas tangles with Liverpool's forward men
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Georginio Wijnaldum attempts to bring the ball under control
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Isco gets away from Trent Alexander-Arnold
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Marcelo clashes with Dejan Lovren
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Roberto Firmino attempts to shield the ball
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema pounced as Loris Karius released the ball to put Real ahead
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Karim Benzema celebrates his goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane drew Liverpool level from close quarters
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Sadio Mane celebrates his equaliser
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Luka Modric winds up for a shot on goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest goals in a European final to put Real back in front
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates his stunning volley
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A second Loris Karius mistake handed Real their third goal of the evening
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid celebrate their third goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final A fan who ran onto the pitch is tackled by staff as Ronaldo takes a shot on goal
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Liverpool's players look on after defeat
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Loris Karius asks for forgiveness from Liverpool's fans after the final whistle
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Jordan Henderson reacts after defeat
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Gareth Bale celebrates victory after the final whistle
Champions League final: The story of the game - in pictures Real Madrid vs Liverpool - Champions League final Real Madrid are crowned champions of Europe for the third year in a row
Getty
“I need to be playing week in, week out, and that’s not happened this season,” the forward said. “I had an injury five, six weeks into the season but I’ve been fit ever since,” added Bale. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it.”
Manager Zinedine Zidane then admitted Bale’s situation is “complicated”, but it could be even more complicated to get the deal he wants.
There has been mutual interest between United and Bale since 2012, and the Old Trafford club did threaten Madrid for his signature in 2013. The possibility of a deal has been mooted through back channels for the past few years, and looked like it might finally happen last summer, as Jose Mourinho then publicly acknowledged it around the 2017 Super Cup.
The parties couldn’t come to an agreement, however, and United’s interest has since then greatly cooled. They feel that a deal for Bale would be too high-priced – both in terms of a fee and wages, given he is said to earn a total of almost £600,000 a week – at too high an age, especially given recent injury problems. Such a move is also much more unlikely after the mid-season signing of Alexis Sanchez . United's priority is no longer an attacker, especially in a summer where they are set to spend big on other positions, although Bale's star power could yet prove persuasive for the right deal.
Bale is however now said by Madrid sources to greatly want a move to Old Trafford, and has discussed with the figures in the Bernabeu dressing room he is friendly with.
It will now take a shift in mindset from United, or a shift in circumstances and demands, for any deal to come through.
The future of Cristiano Ronaldo could be just as influential for Bale, as he cast doubt over his own Real Madrid future in the wake of the record win . If the Portuguese were to finally leave, it would free up that place in the side, and president Florentino Perez is known to be a huge fan of Bale.
The mind of the player might change if he gets that regular starting place, as he stated publicly, but sources say that he would by now prefer a move away – and above all to Old Trafford.
A return to Tottenham Hotspur has been mooted, but sources close to Bale's former club say he is considered far too expensive, and would greatly have to reduce wage demands for any deal to even be remotely possible.
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