Gareth Bale's family 'want him to leave Real Madrid on his own terms'

Gareth Bale’s family have asked him to leave Real Madrid this summer, according to reports.

The Welshman’s contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season, which will close the door on a nine-year spell at the club.

Bale’s time in Spain has been laden with silverware, but he has also had a fractious relationship with the club and its supporters at times.

According to Marca, Bale has received messages from his family in Cardiff telling him to exit Real Madrid, but ‘to do so on his own terms, not via the ignominy of the back door’.

The 32-year-old’s relatives reportedly believe that he should not leave ‘silently’, but ‘as someone who achieved everything possible’ in the Spanish capital.

Bale joined Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013 for a then-world record fee of £85.1million.

He lifted the Champions League in his first season at the club, scoring in the 4-1 extra-time victory over Atletico Madrid in the final, as well as the Copa del Rey.

It was the first of four Champions League crowns that Bale would go on to win, in addition to two La Liga titles.

However, he did not enjoy a pleasant relationship with former manager Zinedine Zidane and returned to Tottenham on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

Under Carlo Ancelotti this season, Bale has struggled with injury and been limited to just three games in La Liga.

He has returned to the substitutes bench in recent matches though and could be set for his first club appearance in over five months in the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao next week.

There is reportedly 'complete respect' between Bale and Ancelotti, which will allow the Welshman to leave the club 'in the right way'.