When Manchester United look to spend their riches this summer, Gareth Bale should be the last port of call.
This is not through any lack of ability for the Wales wonder. The self-confessed potential availability of someone capable of the unfathomable feat witnessed in Saturday’s Champions League final victory for Real Madrid would usually be a gift from above for a side whose football acted as a replacement for sleeping pills during much of a dreary 2017/18.
Neither is it a question of pure finance. A record turnover of $767 million for 2016/17 will be bettered, once again, when the latest figures are announced.
In this area, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward never errs.
Within this frame, wages rumoured to come in at £650,000 per week (Dh3.2m) – an amount that does not markedly exceed resident Chile superstar Alexis Sanchez’s pay packet – and a transfer fee approximated at anything upwards of £80m (Dh389.2m) should not make board members wince.
It is rather the unsettling conclusion that the staggering bicycle kick, a contender for the greatest goal ever scored in a showpiece, produced by Bale represents the final high point in a career of supreme achievement.
There is a reason why Zinedine Zidane has seemingly grown so cool and why Madrid might relish a last chance to cash in on an asset they valued at a landmark €100m (Dh423.5m) back in 2013 when they snatched him from Tottenham Hotspur.
Bale will turn 29 in July. Not ancient, by any stretch, for elite players indoctrinated in the monastic standards required at the highest level.
However, for a performer whose assets are best evidenced at high speed, the nagging spectre of injury should cause United manager Jose Mourinho to hold serious reservation – never mind owners, the Glazers.
2017/18’s 39 appearances was the Cardiff-native’s best since 2014/15’s high-water mark at Los Blancos of 48 run-outs. Some improvement on the preceding 27 games from 2016/17.
Right height, perfect angle, it all happened in a split-second. #InnovateYourGame pic.twitter.com/DYji9sEvzl
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) May 27, 2018
Yet, Madrid had 62 fixtures to fulfil in all competitions. Bale’s figure represents just 62.9 per cent of that amount.
Calf problems have bedevilled his stay in Spain. They sidelined him twice during last winter, alone.
Like the Mona Lisa residing in a private collection rather than The Louvre, what good is owning such a prized asset if you cannot display it?
The obvious counterpoint to this is 2012’s game-changing recruitment of Netherlands striker Robin van Persie from Arsenal. The then 29-year-old’s injection of goals was crucial to Sir Alex Ferguson’s subsequent glorious send-off, yet the Netherlands striker exerted an ephemeral influence at Old Trafford.
In two further seasons, he would not make more than 30 appearances in all competitions or score more than 20 goals. His waning powers acted as anchor on a squad already hamstrung by the maddening tactics of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
Sanchez’s early stumbles at 29-years-old point to the continued dangers of chasing a quick fix.
Recruits within the age range of 25-year-old Brazil and Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred plus 19-year-old Porto right-back Diogo Dalot are what is required.
This is a lesson from recent history worth heeding. Especially when the coherence and long-term planning witnessed across town at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is taken in mind.
122 - It took Gareth Bale just 122 seconds to score versus Liverpool after coming on as a substitute. Majestic. #UCLfinal #RMALFC pic.twitter.com/LIcUmIn4L9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 26, 2018
Even worse for Bale’s prospects is the fact he made just 26 starts last term. An amount that equates to just 41.9 per cent of Madrid’s total.
Only 18 minutes of action were afforded to him in both legs of the European semi-final against Bayern Munich, plus a solitary half in the preceding round against Juventus.
The depth of attacking talent in the white half of the Spanish capital – Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Isco, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez – is not reflected in the red half of Manchester.
But this adds further evidence to the adage that Bale is a target with a premium price tag who no longer is considered a premium asset.
Bale is expendable and United are the gift horse Madrid have long banked on exploiting.
The near misses of 2007 at Southampton and 2013 at Tottenham were the time to land him. Bale now represents an alluring dream that should not be made real.
