Shearer questions whether Bale would start for Prem top six

Lewis Oldham
Bale Shearer top six

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale may struggle to start for all top Premier League sides, says Alan Shearer.

Rumours have been circling of late that the Welshman may finally be about to exit the Spanish giants.

This has been fuelled by an interview he did during the international break where he criticised the Madrid hierarchy.


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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are reportedly the two English teams chasing Bale. Spurs are interested in a forward who can cover for Harry Kane when needed, while United are looking at alternatives to Jadon Sancho.

Shearer told Coral, as cited by Wales Online, that a player of Bale’s calibre should be playing every week:

“I think it’s such a shame that a player of his ability is sitting on the bench or in the stands every single weekend.”

“He’s a fantastic player, still got lots to offer, whether that’s in another country.

“Without a doubt he could certainly still play in the Premier League, I know clubs have one or two concerns regarding injuries.

“The money that he’s on, will clubs be able to afford it, even more so given the current situation that we’re in.

“Someone of his ability shouldn’t be sat wasting away on the bench, his ability should be playing every single week.

“It’s a shame that he’s having to do that, and playing for Wales, albeit 45 minutes and then 90 minutes, still doing well enough, still got plenty to offer.”

It is well-known that Bale and Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane do not see eye to eye. The 31-year-old only featured in 20 games in all competitions last season and he scored just three goals.

He has been a long-rumoured target for Man Utd for the past few years, though a move to reunite with his former club Tottenham could perhaps appeal to Bale more.

Shearer hopes Bale can get back playing football soon, but he does have doubts as to whether he would start for the Premier League’s top six:

He added “I hope somewhere along the line he can get back playing football and hopefully that can be in the Premier League.

“Whether he goes back to Spurs, there’s been talk of Manchester United in recent seasons, but he should be playing somewhere.”

“He possibly wouldn’t walk into all the teams in the top six in the Premier League, it’s going to take a wealthy club to be able to afford a transfer fee and a salary to get Bale there.

“Whether clubs can do that outside the top six remains to be seen, but he’s got to be playing football rather than being sat on the bench.”