Jump directly to the content
perfect gigg

Ryan Giggs believes Gareth Bale should stay at Real Madrid despite Manchester United links

Wales boss believes his talisman belongs in the Spanish capital where he can scoop yet more gongs

RYAN GIGGS believes Gareth Bale should stay put at Real Madrid.

The Welshman, 28, has once again been linked with a big-money summer move to Manchester United.

 Ryan Giggs knows Gareth Bale will be crucial if he is to have any success as Wales manager
6
Ryan Giggs knows Gareth Bale will be crucial if he is to have any success as Wales managerCredit: AP:Associated Press

But Red Devils legend Giggs says the £86million man would be better off remaining at the Bernabeu than a return to the Premier League.

When asked about where Bale's future lies, his Wales boss Giggs said: "Yes, it’s Real Madrid.

"I went to see him against PSG and a lot of people had PSG as favourites, but when you go there the aura around the club, there are only a handful of clubs who have got that. So of course you want to stay there.

"What’s he won, three Champions League? The proof is in that. When you are clubs like that you are always going to win things."

 Gareth Bale helped himself to a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over China
6
Gareth Bale helped himself to a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over ChinaCredit: AFP or licensors
 The Real Madrid ace became Wales' all-time leading scorer with 29
6
The Real Madrid ace became Wales' all-time leading scorer with 29Credit: AP:Associated Press

Bale broke Ian Rush's Welsh goalscoring record on Thursday with a hat-trick in the 6-0 rout of China to set up a final against a Luis Suarez inspired Uruguay.

Both the former Tottenham star and Suarez will be vying to win the Champions League with La Liga rivals Real and Barcelona comfortably into the quarter-finals.


BOLD BALE Gareth Bale becomes Wales’ leading all-time goalscorer and insists it feels better than winning Champions League with Real Madrid


Bale has already won three winner's medals but Giggs, a two-time winner himself, thinks the flier could win a fourth title and join Liverpool legend Phil Neal as Britain's most decorated player in Europe's top competition.

Giggs added: "Once you get to this stage, probably, five or six teams who can win it. Real Madrid definitely can win it because they’ve got that belief.

"Obviously they are not doing as well as they’ve done in the league but like I say, I was there that night, they’ve got that experience, a coach who’s won it a couple of times, so they’re invaluable those things. So yes, they could win it."

 Wales and Liverpool legend Ian Rush has finally seen his mark beaten
6
Wales and Liverpool legend Ian Rush has finally seen his mark beatenCredit: Action Images - Reuters

Giggs is in a unique position that he played with both Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo and he can see similarities between the two predatory forwards who have moved more centrally as their careers have developed.

He said: "He has that ability, goalscoring, he can score every type of goal. There are similarities with Cristiano, they started out as wingers, and really they are now goalscorers.

"Any type of goal. Every game will be approached differently but of course his team-mates will know it’s about getting Gareth on the ball as much as you can. Which position that is, it will change game by game."

 Ryan Giggs claimed Gareth Bale deserves to be ahead of him in the list of Wales' greatest players
6
Ryan Giggs claimed Gareth Bale deserves to be ahead of him in the list of Wales' greatest playersCredit: AFP or licensors
 Leading scorer Gareth Bale scores his first Wales goal against Slovakia in 2006
6
Leading scorer Gareth Bale scores his first Wales goal against Slovakia in 2006Credit: Reuters

But Giggs believes Bale, treated like a god in the Far East during this four-team China Cup tournament, will stick around until the next World Cup in 2022 although he thinks the ex-Spurs forward could eventually move into coaching.

The 44-year-old added: "Yes, I don’t see why not. I think without getting ahead of yourself, you have to have that goal long-term of the World Cup.

"In football you have to plan for the future but also just get it right in the beginning. That’s what my focus is on at the moment. These warm-up games before the Nations League in September.

"I see an intelligent player, you tell him once and he gets it. That is not always the case with players, sometimes you have to tell them a couple of times, sometimes you have to show them.

"He’s not just a devastating player on his day, he is an intelligent player, so when you’ve got someone like that who knows the game, of course you wouldn’t be surprised if they do go into coaching."

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale builds a golf course in his back garden
Gareth Bale scores hat-trick and breaks goal record against China
Topics