Gareth Bale ‘could retire’ after the European Championship

Gareth Bale could retire after this summer’s European Championship, it has been claimed.

The Welsh international has flown to Spain’s capital for crunch talks with Real Madrid, and the Spanish press is reporting that he is there to negotiate the termination of his contract with the club.

Bale has spent the season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, and he was tight-lipped when asked about his future plans, following the club’s 4-2 win over Leicester City, in which he scored two goals, on the final day of the Premier League season.

He is under contract with the Spanish giants until 2022, but according to Spanish paper ABC, he could try to negotiate an exit from the club and to take home around half of the €15m he is due to receive. It says he could even retire after the European Championship.

In an interview with Sky Sports on Sunday, Bale insisted his focus was solely on Wales’ European Championship campaign. However, he also let slip that he has already decided what is going to happen this summer.

“It’ll just have to be… it will have to happen after the Euros.

“I know what I’m doing, but it’ll just cause chaos if I say anything.

“I’m not thinking about anything else other than Wales.”