Football
ESPN staff 7y

Gareth Bale: Everybody's place is up for grabs at Real Madrid

LOS ANGELES -- Gareth Bale has told ESPN FC that "everybody's place is up for grabs" at Real Madrid as he looks to bounce back from injury next season.

Bale missed much of the run-in of the 2016-17 campaign, with Isco taking his place to help Madrid win La Liga.

Zinedine Zidane's side continue to be linked with a move for Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe, a deal that may be closer to fruition now that Alvaro Morata has left to join Chelsea.

However, Bale said in an interview at Madrid's preseason base in Los Angeles that, after four years at the Spanish giants, he is used to top stars arriving at the Bernabeu to add competition for places.

He said: "I think that's just football these days. Anywhere you go now in the world -- whether it be England, in Germany, here in Spain, in France -- there's always big transfers going on. It's just part and parcel of football now."

Regarding Isco, the 28-year-old added: "We don't really play in the same position. Obviously, it's up to the manager what he decides. But ultimately, we both want to play -- the same for every other player wants to play. I suppose everybody's place is up for grabs."

That may not quite extend to the club's record goal scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, who now looks set to remain at the club after being linked with a move away earlier in the summer. On their relationship, Bale said: "We get along really well. On the pitch we play good football. We score a lot of goals and assists a lot. So, yeah, we're just like normal teammates."

Wales international Bale did recover in time to come on as a substitute in last season's Champions League final victory over Juventus in Cardiff, but that came at a cost as it set him back on the road to full fitness.

"Obviously, last season was a bit frustrating for me," he said. "I started the season off very well, but obviously got a major injury where I obviously needed an operation. It took a lot longer than expected to come back from. So, yeah, for me now it's about working hard now in preseason, getting back to full fitness, getting my ankle strong, and, yeah, starting off the new season fresh and rearing to go."

Asked if he learned anything from rushing back to play in that final in his hometown, he added: "Not to do it again. Obviously in hindsight it's easy to say, but as you get older as a footballer, you learn more, you learn every day and you learn more about your body and injuries. So, yeah, obviously next time I'll come back when the time is right, but yeah, obviously, in hindsight, which is a beautiful thing, you'd love to go back and change it, but that's not the case."

^ Back to Top ^