[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

maybe I overvalue the injury aspect. Possible. And it surely could be worse, because he's never suffered serious long-term injuries. But it's been a lot of minor and niggling injuries for sure. Just looking at Transfermarkt, it's an extensive list over the past few years. Ankle, calf, adductor, hip, hamstring ... it takes a toll on an attacker that relies on power and pace.

I think at the end of the day, it depends on what Bale wants. Is going to China and being the face of football over there more tempting than golfing in Madrid? I don't even know which one of those options would be more or less ambitious than the other one. He's too young to go to China to be honest, but sitting around in Madrid and letting his contract run down can't be enticing either. Maybe some European top club swoops in, but I doubt it. He'd need to give up a lot of money.

Yeah, this. It really reminds me a lot of the career trajectory of Michael Owen.

Once those muscle injuries start adding up the pace dissolves.