This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
Published on July 23, 2019, Gareth Bale's situation at Real Madrid has sparked interest from several top clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham.
However, it is the eye-watering £1m-a-week deal offered to Bale from an unnamed Chinese Super League side that has set tongues wagging.
While the kind of money could be difficult to turn down, the Wales international is understood to be only keen for a move to a European club.
But with a host of clubs not ready to match his current sky-high £600,000-a-week wages, the 30-year-old may have no option but to head to China.
Should he seal the move, Bale could surpass Lionel Messi as the world's best-paid footballer, leaving him as the highest-paid footballer ever - eclipsing Messi's mouthwatering £900,000-a-week deal at Barca.
According to the current top eight world's best-paid players, Bale would leapfrog Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Neymar, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho.
Top eight world’s best-paid players: ¶
- 1. Lionel Messi - £900,000 (Barcelona)
- 2. Cristiano Ronaldo - £850,000 (Juventus)
- 3. Antoine Griezmann - £725,000 (Barcelona)
- 4. Neymar - £675,000 (PSG)
- 5. Luis Suarez - £625,000 (Barcelona)
- 6. Gareth Bale - £600,000 (Real Madrid)
- 7. Alexis Sanchez - £505,000 (Man United)
- 8. Philippe Coutinho - £500,000 (Barcelona)
