What would Gareth Bale bring to Man United if they signed him?
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Gareth Bale could leave Real Madrid this summer, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reportedly courting the forward.
Both Premier League sides can offer the Welshman different things.
For Spurs, Bale could return to familiar surroundings, and team-up with Harry Kane and Deli Alli.
But United can offer far more money, and a more likely chance of trophies.
So how would the 28-year-old fit in at Old Trafford?
If Bale were to make the move, it’s likely he would be mainly used on the right of a front free, alongside Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
Bale would cut in from the right, Sanchez from the left, and the trio would be simply devastating when on song.
Lukaku could hold the ball up top in the middle, playing in either of his star wingers on the flanks.
Equally, both Bale and Sanchez could feed the Belgian in from out wide. On paper it’s a stunning trio of talent.
But therein lies the issue. Bale’s injury record. He played just 19 La Liga games last season and 23 the year before that.
He has already missed 10 league games this term too.
And that’s a concern because as he gets older, those injuries may ensure he loses his blistering pace quicker than he otherwise would. And without his pace, Bale becomes a toothless tiger.
Plus, he’s 29 in July. How many years can United realistically look to get out of him? Four if they’re very lucky.
And in turn, signing Bale could say a lot about Manchester United in the modern world.
Should they land the Welshman then that’s two key players they have signed who are both over 28, following Sanchez’s arrival in January.
Gone are the days of the fabled youth academy at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford will quickly prove to be the exception rather than the rule, and Bale’s arrival would only hinder his progress more.
But when on form, Bale is a sensational player of the very highest quality.
He’s pretty much untouchable when in full flight, and it’s that rare talent which has United so keen to sign him.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
