Modric weighs in on Bale’s transfer saga with advice for Real Madrid teammate

Luka Modric has urged teammate Gareth Bale to make a decision over his future at Real Madrid.

Bale has been linked with a return to the Premier League after hitting out at his Spanish club for “blocking everything at the last second” as he tried to get out to move to China last summer.

Those comments have led to uncertainty over his future, and Tottenham and Manchester United have been linked with a move for the winger who left Spurs seven years ago to join Los Blancos.

However the Wales superstar earns a mammoth £600,000-a-week in the Spanish capital and has two years left on the lucrative deal, salary demands few clubs would be able to meet.

And Modric, who also played alongside Bale at Tottenham, admits it’s a tough time for Bale and Madrid.

Modric told The Times: “For almost 12 years we are playing together and it’s a difficult situation for him and for the club.

“Gareth needs to know what he wants to do. He is a grown man and needs to decide what is best for him.

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“Does he feel happy here or does he want to try something else? But, for me, Gareth is still a great player and still has a lot to offer in football.

“It just depends on him, if he has enough hunger or desire to keep going. I think he has but whether his situation finishes here or continues, he can still be an important player.”

Bale is not in boss Zinedine Zidane’s plans and was frozen out of the side following the season restart last term.

The duo are not on good terms after Bale was an unused substitute for the final games of the campaign, before being left out altogether on the last day.

Bale was given permission to remain in Madrid when Real travelled to the Etihad for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 defeat to Manchester City.

The forward has won La Liga twice, the Copa del Rey and four Champions League crowns, including three in three years between 2016 and 2018.