No homecoming but a Real Madrid great gets his Hollywood ending as Gareth Bale moves to LAFC – The Warm-Up

California > Cardiff

Los Angeles. Oof. Who can blame him, and don’t go thinking this is just a six-month-long retirement party, either.

“What I can tell you is that LAFC and Gareth are hoping that this is a long-term partnership and step for Gareth and his family,” LAFC co-president John Thorrington said yesterday.

“It was never about six months just for the World Cup. We were always talking about longer term than that. That was very clear from Gareth and his representative.

“Obviously we expect him to be a top, top player for us and in this league, but we will do so sensibly.”

Indeed, having already added Giorgio Chiellini to their ranks earlier this month, LAFC are eager to get their “Ferrari” up and running as soon as possible – perhaps as early as early July.

“He sees the chance to pull this sport up to competing with the other sports,” Thorrington added.

“As much as possible… understanding how to manage a player like Gareth, a Ferrari or thoroughbred racehorse, they need extra attention in order to succeed, we’re confident we’ll be able to do that.

“The benefit of him joining the group we have, we will have a player who can play as much as he can, but we will do so sensibly. His priority will be at LAFC but we’re not naive – he has a World Cup on the horizon and how we manage his preparation ahead of the World Cup will be important to Gareth and the success of LA, but we want him peaking after the game with the US!”

It seems, then, that Bale has chosen this move both carefully and wisely.

As tempting as a stint with home club Cardiff may have been, the Championship is quite possibly the most demanding league going – fixtures have been known to pass by without some even realising – and so given the Welshman doesn’t fancy getting battered and bruised for six months right before his biggest ever moment on the international stage, it makes sense to go with the MLS and the LA lifestyle.

Again, why not? It looks to be entirely the right choice, even if there will be those believing Bale has plenty more to give somewhere in Europe.

Moving week?

And that was just Sunday’s list of shoulds, mights and wills from the transfer world of rumours on Twitter and beyond.

It sure looks like this week could be moving week across Europe, and we didn’t even mention Paul Pogba’s return to Juventus which is seemingly signed, sealed and delivered too.

Of course, you can take half of that list and add a pinch of salt, but the Neymar and Ronaldo talk won’t go away, while there is every reason to believe Phillips could become a Manchester City player this week, and that Jesus will be unveiled at Arsenal today, while the Gunners also appear eager to step up their interest in Raphinha too.

Anyway. It’s late June. The new season is still a fair bit away. So forgive the transfer chat, it looks like an intriguing week is brewing – if that’s your cup of tea.

IN THE CHANNELS

Even goats need naps, and Luis Suarez was all too happy to capture it after Lionel Messi’s birthday weekend.

HAT-TIP

Obviously, the Euros are around the corner, and while there is still work to do, it is worth remembering how far the women’s game has come in 10 years:

RETRO CORNER

Never mind your Zidanes, Ronaldos, Figos and Beckhams, when it comes to Real Madrid of that era, Raul will always hold a special place in our hearts.

What. A. Player. Happy 45th birthday, Raul!

COMING UP

Not much football, naturally, but stay across Eurosport all day – all fortnight – for all things Wimbledon, while the Tour de France gets going this week too!