Gareth Bale

[thelak]

Ok, remove all identifiers and details from this.

Company A offers individual X one million pounds per week for a year, to basically do what you are already doing but in an easier environment, after which you can practically do whatever you like.

That would be hard to turn down. Honestly, how could anyone really justify turning down an opportunity like that? A year from now he will be able to pick up a new contract without having to ever worry about wages again.

I don't envy him having to choose.

Please no more comparing a footballer that already doesn’t need to work a single day in his life again to be faboulously wealthy to working in an office

 

[fortworthspur]

No they don’t, but they don’t have another guaranteed contract worth approx £50-60m to move to either. Or Bale’s accumulated wealth.

It’s all relative. I’m just saying there are other things in life than money. Even if it’s a SHIT LOAD of money.

absolutely, and he almost certainly will end up signing with someone else for less but he's going to try get as much of the difference out of RM as possible.

 

[Kingellesar]

Remember the days of just being happy your club were signing players.

Nowadays it feels like you need an accounting degree to even think about who your club might sign.

 

[sigma7]

If Barnett really isn’t going to consider letting him take a loan then I’d imagine our chances are better of nabbing him. He’s obviously holding out to get them to either lower the fee substantially or just get a pay off. Either way the more Madrid have to stump up, the less the new club do. Forever hopeful.

 

[we_all_loved_freund]

In the UK the maximum award for constructive dismissal is the loser of a year’s salary or £86,444.

I don’t know Spanish law but I doubt Bale would want to go down this route.

It is an interesting point though. It could be pleaded as a breach of contract (instead of constructive dismissal) claim, the damages for which are unlimited. It may actually be a good route to go down. Bale would still be under a duty to take reasonable steps to mitigate his loss (which he could do by getting a club to pay, say, half of his wages). Real Madrid would still be on the hook for the remainder.

The complicating factor is the player’s registration, although I’m not sure how Bale can mitigate his loss if RM refuse to release it.

ZZ’s comments/actions have put RM in a very difficult position; im sure they would amount to a repudiatory breach of contract, which only strengthens Bale’s bargaining position. IMO, there is no way they will get a fee for him, unless the buying club are very desperate or very silly.

 

[p.l.edmonds]

Ok, remove all identifiers and details from this.

Company A offers individual X one million pounds per week for a year, to basically do what you are already doing but in an easier environment, after which you can practically do whatever you like.

That would be hard to turn down. Honestly, how could anyone really justify turning down an opportunity like that? A year from now he will be able to pick up a new contract without having to ever worry about wages again.

I don't envy him having to choose.

The thing is the bit in bold will be the case wherever he ends up. It's almost certainly the case already - it's not like he'd need to find another job (or just imagine him signing on!) if he jacked it in now is it?

Every part of this is relative - if he could earn 50% less money and be 50% more happy with his job, given that he already has more money than any of us will see in our lifetimes, then maybe he would. It's an equation that just wouldn't apply to most people as we don't have enough wealth to sustain us - I couldn't afford to earn 50% less, even if I'd be 50% more happy with my job, because I'm a normal person with bills to pay and a modest bank balance - so it's pointless saying what any of us would / should do.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Please no more comparing a footballer that already doesn’t need to work a single day in his life again to be faboulously wealthy to working in an office

What comparison? This is one human being offered the opportunity to earn an insane amount of money for little work.

There is no comparison, as a species we have elevated money and financial worth to the highest level, I'm simply pointing out a plain fact.

Stop being romantic that football is still a game, or that being a footballer is anything other than a very high paid job.

 

[easley91]

Please no more comparing a footballer that already doesn’t need to work a single day in his life again to be faboulously wealthy to working in an office

It is a job at the end of the day. Even our own Assou-Ekotto said as much. This is how they earn their living and their income.

 

[Coyboy]

I don’t think Bale or his agent are doing anything wrong here. Imagine your work gave you a massive raise, and a long term contract, you’re one of their top performers and then suddenly a new line manager comes in and wants you gone. You’ve not done anything to warrant the sack, and they aren’t making you redundant. Why should you have to take a pay cut to go and work at a smaller firm?

If anything, Bale has a decent case for constructive dismissal.

Assuming such a thing exists in Spain and that his contract is not with a personal service company as a way of reducing tax liability etc etc and employment status- at least superficially.

In reality, I suspect what is happening (as I remember hearing that this is what happens when a club wants a player out, I think it was viz Chadli a few years ago) the club is in negotiations with the player as to how much he would accept to walk away from the contract and as the numbers here are huge and there are not many potential suitors, Zidane may have been advised to go public and make it clear that Bale won't be getting any game time next year which for a 30 year old injury prone sportsman who relies on his pace and strength, might do the trick.

 

[tiger666]

If Barnett really isn’t going to consider letting him take a loan then I’d imagine our chances are better of nabbing him.

Letting him? He isn't his dad. Bale can do whatever the hell he likes. If his agent doesn't like it, he can find another agent who will.

 

[fortworthspur]

Please no more comparing a footballer that already doesn’t need to work a single day in his life again to be faboulously wealthy to working in an office

isnt that what you are doing when you imply Bale will have more money than he ever needs? It goes both ways.

 

[thelak]

isnt that what you are doing when you imply Bale will have more money than he ever needs? It goes both ways.

Unless he is going and spunking his weekly wage on black at the local casino I’m pretty sure a guy that reportedly makes £30m a year and whose only hobby seems to be golf has more money than he will ever need

 

[thelak]

What comparison? This is one human being offered the opportunity to earn an insane amount of money for little work.

There is no comparison, as a species we have elevated money and financial worth to the highest level, I'm simply pointing out a plain fact.

Stop being romantic that football is still a game, or that being a footballer is anything other than a very high paid job.

No but I’m pretty sure Elite sportsmen will take a trade off for glory / fame / trophies

There is a middle ground

 

[fortworthspur]

Unless he is going and spunking his weekly wage on black at the local casino I’m pretty sure a guy that reportedly makes £30m a year and whose only hobby seems to be golf has more money than he will ever need

how would you know? you're basing that on how you live your own life.

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

how would you know? you're basing that on how you live your own life.

If his family isn’t set up for the next 15 generations then he’s making some incredibly bad decisions with his money

 

[fortworthspur]

If his family isn’t set up for the next 15 generations then he’s making some incredibly bad decisions with his money

maybe he wants his own Gulfstream.

 

[Kingellesar]

maybe he wants his own Gulfstream.

Or golfstream

 

[morriss]

Great conversation guys.

Any news on Gareth Bale?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Football is not about glory, it stopped being about glory when it stopped being a game, in 1992.

Since then it's a career, it's something you can study at University, there is an industry surrounds it and it's almost globally popular. As someone said on the radio this morning, you think Tom Cruise is going to go and make his next film for no money? Of course not - would you work your job for less pay because some customers wanted you to?

Add to that, it's a hard call because you set your value by stuff like this - if he accepts this then he has a high chance of finding a decent contract next year. If he accepts a lower wage and it doesn't work out wherever he goes next, he's carved his chances of getting a similarly impressive wedge in half.

From the point of view of a fan, i'd love to see him play at the Lane again. From the point of view as a member of modern society - grab the money, mate. Grab it and invest it before you get that injury tomorrow that ends your career, or the arse falls out of the game, or the million other things that could dick your plans up in a heartbeat.

It's a year. Enjoy the duck & pancakes.

 

[TorontoYid]

Lets be far though. Nobody playing for Spurs is dipping into food banks to survive. I agree he would likely take the extra cash but not always. If that was the case players in their prime would be headed to China and the USA instead of using them as a last big payday to end their career. While money plays a big part of the modern game, many players will take a salary that is only very high rather than crazy if they like the team, style of play will get regular CL footy etc. Bale will likely get left on the bench to rot at Madrid and if he doesn't take a pay cut he will end up in a mickey mouse league like the Chinese one.