As Real Madrid embrace the reality of losing their manager and star player within a few weeks of one another, it is widely suspected that the changes will not end there. Five years after missing out on Gareth Bale the first time, Manchester United are believed to be in advanced talks with the Spanish giants about acquiring the Welshman's services.
Only a matter of weeks after Bale played a pivotal role in bringing Real Madrid their third-successive Champions League triumph against Liverpool in Kiev, Manchester Evening News have reported that the player Real broke the world transfer-record to sign in 2013 could be on his way out of the Spanish capital.
Revealing that 'talks over a transfer have reached an advanced stage,' any efforts to move Bale back to the Premier League will reportedly come down to the player himself.
In the wake of his Champions League final heroics, Bale was unapologetic in his belief that he should have been starting more games fro Real Madrid in the build-up to this point. Having only came on as a substitute in the final itself, the Welshman hinted at the possibility that were he to remain a peripheral member of Zinedine Zidane's plans, he may have to look elsewhere.
In what may yet prove a decisive factor in Bale's decision to stay or go, Zidane memorably departed the club only a matter of days after lifting his third Champions League triumph in Kiev.
With Spain's recently sacked manager Julen Lopetegui now in charge of Real, it is reported that Bale's future will depend on whether Lopetegui convinces Bale 'he is a big part of his plans' going forward.
With Cristiano Ronaldo already departing the club for Juventus, Bale's departure would only serve to affirm the sense of transition the Real Madrid are currently going through.
In Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Marcelo, Real Madrid possess four key first-team players aged 30-years or older. With much being made of who will replace Ronaldo (and the obvious costs entailed in such a procedure), it is not unfeasible that Real would welcome the opportunity to part with Gareth Bale and his sizable contract.
