MX23RW : Monday, January 6 07:17:56| >> :120:28118:28118:

Craig Bellamy: 'Manchester United cannot afford Gareth Bale'

Bellamy: 'Man United cannot afford Bale'
© Reuters
Craig Bellamy claims that Manchester United 'cannot afford to pay Gareth Bale's wages' amid speculation that the Welshman could leave Real Madrid.

Former Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy has claimed that Manchester United 'cannot afford to pay Gareth Bale's wages' amid speculation that the Welshman could leave Real Madrid this summer.

Bale, 29, has long been linked with a return to the Premier League, and admitted after the 2018 Champions League final that he could leave the Bernabeu ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

United are believed to have a long-standing interest in the Welshman, but Bellamy has played down suggestions that his countryman could move to Old Trafford.

"Where could he go? Man United can't pay his wages, nobody can. There's only one club that can pay his wages," Bellamy told the Daily Star.

"That's the world he's in at this moment. The wages he is he'll have to take a massive wage cut to go elsewhere. And I'm sure he would do but realistically then is someone then going to go and buy him? How can a club go and spend £80m, £90m?

"I know Juventus did for Ronaldo but Ronaldo's a different purpose, that's a different world of business. But Gareth, how can you go and spend £80m,£90m, £100m for a player you're not going to get any return on?

"Maybe as part of a part-exchange deal but Gareth won't be part of any part-exchange deals, he's too good a player for that. So I just don't see it being a possible move for anyone to get anywhere near."

Bale has scored 88 times in 189 appearances for Madrid in all competitions.

ID:331163: cacheID:331163:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2534:
Written by
Matt Law
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring in the Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev on May 26, 2018
Read Next:
Bale set for talks with Julen Lopetegui
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!