Gareth Bale would only leave Real Madrid for another “giant club”, according to his former Wales manager Chris Coleman.
The 28-year-old’s future in the Spanish capital has been under increasing scrutiny with just 16 La Liga starts this season and being hauled off at half-time in Wednesday’s defeat to Juventus.
“How long has he been there? Five years?” Coleman – now in charge of Championship club Sunderland – asked, as cited by BBC Sport.
“After his first year when I used to do the Welsh press conferences, they always used to ask, 'The Spanish press are not very happy with him, has he got a future there?' I think he's won three Champions Leagues there.
“All right, he's done a good stint there, but the last time I spoke to him, he was very happy in Madrid, his family is settled there.
“Where does he go from there that's bigger? There's nowhere bigger, so if he does leave Madrid, where's he going to go?
“It's going to have to be another giant club.”
Bale has been linked to a summer move to Manchester United, who attempted to sign him last summer.
