Soccer players retiring is a part of the sport and is a special moment in any player’s life. Often they cannot forget their past life as a player and feel compelled to make a return to the game, or in particular their long-loved club.
It seems ex-Real Madrid and Tottenham star Gareth Bale is about to make a similar decision, though the nature of it is different to what fans expect. The former Welsh soccer legend will be returning just in time for the London derby.
Gareth Bale to make surprise Tottenham return
Tottenham confirmed on their official website that Gareth Bale is indeed returning to the club. But it will be as a special guest for the London derby game against Chelsea which will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Gareth Bale is considered a legend of the club, having arrived as a 17 year old teenager in 2007. He went on to make 236 appearances for them, scoring 71 goals and assisting 58 times. He was crucial in their first ever Champions League qualification in 2010, and won both PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Bale would eventually move to Real Madrid for a then record sum of 100 million euros. He would win 5 Champions League, and 3 La Liga trophies among many others. He did return on loan to Tottenham in the 2020-21 season, mainly to make sure he was fit enough for the Euros after that season. Eventually, he left Madrid as well, joining LAFC in the MLS and then calling an end to his illustrious career.
Now that Bale will return to the club, he will be presented before the fans during the half time interval of the game. It will be his first appearance there since last playing in 2021 and after retiring from the sport. It is bound to be an emotional moment for both the player and the fans.
London derby predictions
The London derby is expected to be an interesting fixture between the two top teams. Currently, both teams are performing in sharp contrast to each other. The North London club has performed great this season, winning 8 games and are still unbeaten after 11 games. A win against Chelsea will see them become top of the Premier League table. The main reason behind their success is new manager Ange Postecoglou, who has revolutionized their team.
Apart from Gareth Bale, Tottenham will also welcome former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is now managing Todd Boehly’s Chelsea. The Blues have been dismal in their performances, being only 13th in the league table. They did show some promise of improving, before Brentford beat them 2-0.
There is a strong chance that Tottenham will win the game comfortably at their own backyard, though Chelsea may be in for a chance if they play their cards right. The game will take place tomorrow in what appears to be another exciting London derby clash.
