The Wales international stepped off the bench against Liverpool to seal European glory, but admitted afterwards that he will be considering his future
Gareth Bale hinted a summer move away from Real Madrid could be on the cards after stepping off the bench to make a record-breaking contribution to an historic Champions League victory over Liverpool.
The Wales international has been heavily linked with a big-money switch elsewhere after seeing form and fitness issues plague another season in the Spanish capital.
He was left on the bench for Madrid’s biggest game of the season in Kiev on Saturday, but entered the fray just after the hour mark to change the course of the tie with a match-winning brace.
Having shown what he is capable of, the 28-year-old conceded afterwards that – amid much talk of interest from the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich – he will have to weigh up his options when the transfer window re-opens.
Bale told BT Sport: "I need to be playing week in, week out, it hasn't happened this season for one reason or another. I need to sit down in the summer and discuss things with my agent and take things from there."
He added on being left out of Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI for the fourth Champions League final of his Madrid career: "Very disappointed not to start the game. I felt like I deserved it. The best I could do is come on and make an impact and that's what I did."
Bale needed just 122 seconds to make an impact after replacing Isco, with a stunning overhead kick restoring Madrid’s lead on the night.
He would go on to net his second and the Blancos’ third seven minutes from time to wrap up a hat-trick of continental triumphs for European football’s most successful club.
"We know what we have achieved and we know how good we have been. It's turned out to be a great season winning the Champions League,” said Bale.
Bale also admitted that his acrobatic goal against Liverpool is the best of his career to date, with that strike helping him to his own piece of history.
A second effort, which dipped and swerved from distance to slip through the grasp of Loris Karius – who endured a nightmare evening in the Liverpool goal – saw the Welshman become the first player to bag a brace off the bench in a European Cup final.
That would be some way to sign off if he is to leave Madrid this summer, with there sure to be no shortage of takers if Bale is to be made available on the open market.
FreeAgent10
95
I think Bale should leave Madrid. He has won everything a club could win and now is the time to leave on a high note. Madrid fans aren't 100% behind him and neither is the coach. It seems to me that in every season Bale is over judged. He should go to a football club where he will be the man and not be so harshly judged. Good luck on the decision you make Bale.
Maxpower
77
I feel like if Bale had started he would've tired himself out pretty fast by trying to make runs forward, not starting and hitting 2 counters were perfect from the Welshman. Him coming on later was a great thing and it showed that Zidane knows how to handle a game.
IndikaAsiriSR4
61
Vamos Gareth Bale , Your Real Madrid Still Waiting 2022 Confirm Gareth Bale The Beast is Back
Upwardly2015
34
Bale is a great player except for injuries and inadequate chances to play. I wish he'd stay in Madrid, hoping that Zizzou would give him more chances to play.