Gareth Bale posts heartfelt tribute to Real Madrid saying it was an ‘honour’ to wear the shirt for nine years and his ‘dream became a reality and much, much more’ as he bids farewell to LaLiga giants… but what will he do next?
- Gareth Bale is set to bring the curtain down on his Real Madrid stint this summer
- The Welshman has won a host of major honours since joining Real back in 2013
- Ahead of his departure, Bale has bid farewell to the club in an emotional post
- He says it was an ‘incredible experience’ that he will ‘never forget’ in Madrid
Gareth Bale has bid farewell to Real Madrid in an emotional post on social media, insisting his nine-year stay at the Bernabeu was an ‘incredible experience’ that he will ‘never forget’.
The Welshman won a host of major trophies after leaving Tottenham to complete a world-record £90million move to Madrid in 2013, including five Champions Leagues and three Spanish titles.
He scored three goals in Champions League finals for the club, helping them reach La Decima against Atletico Madrid in 2014 before scoring twice against Liverpool four years later.
Gareth Bale has bid farewell to Real Madrid after nine years in an emotional post online
Bale is now set to depart upon the expiry of his contract this summer, having suffered a fall from grace at the Bernabeu in recent years mainly due to fitness problems.
And despite his fractured relationship with supporters of late, Bale has thanked Los Blancos and insisted it was an ‘honour’ to play for the club in a heartfelt farewell message.
‘I write this message to say thank you to all my team mates, past and present, my managers, the backroom staff and to the fans that supported me,’ he said on Twitter.
‘I arrived here nine years ago as a young man who wanted to realise my dream of playing for Real Madrid. To wear the pristine white kit, to wear the crest on my chest, to play at the Santiago Bernabeu, to win titles and to be part of what it’s so famous for, to win the Champions League.
‘I can now look back, reflect and say with honesty that this dream became a reality and much, much more.
‘To be a part of this club’s history and to achieve what we achieved while I was a Real Madrid player, has been an incredible experience and one I will never forget.
‘I also want to thank President Florentino Perez, Jose Angel Sanchez, and the board for giving me the opportunity to play for this club. Together we were able to create some moments that will live forever in the history of this club and football.
‘It has been an honour. Thank you! HALA MADRID!’
Bale enjoyed a breathtaking start to his time in Madrid, scoring 88 goals in his first 189 appearances while sweeping up four Champions Leagues, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
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