Marca and Bale: Reasons to be Sceptical

Article by eSpurs Writer Johnny Murwill (UK)   

The headlines awaiting Spurs fans this morning may have caused dismay among some. A story originating in Marca, the Madrid-dominated Spanish paper, held the dreaded words ‘Bale confident of move to Real'.  

The story quickly gathered pace, with both The Metro and The Daily Star quoting Marca’s story –ironically providing the only quotes in the entire story – and reigniting the Bale saga after a short lull. However, before getting carried away on a wave of media pessimism regarding the apparent inevitability of Gareth Bale’s destination this summer, it’s worth examining a few aspects of the story.

The first is the article itself. While it is impossible to know for sure that it is without substance, it is certainly without any actual quotes or stated source. Instead, Marca provides a highly suggestive and vague insight into what Gareth Bale is thinking. They state that he is attracted by the project being put together at Madrid, which in fairness is one of their more reasonable claims. It is unlikely that many players would react to speculation surrounding a move to Madrid with anything but admiration. However, the sheer vagueness surrounding the assertion that Bale will discuss his future with Levy ‘at some stage during the summer’, is what really highlights the lack of substance in the article. 
 
Secondly, it is worth putting the story in the context of Marca’s history. Spurs fans might recall Marca’s confident claim just last summer that Bale had agreed to join Barcelona in a £32 million deal. That was quickly ridiculed and labelled as baseless. The intentions behind Marca’s line of reporting are also notable. Marca is well known for supporting Madrid in its efforts to recruit players, and Arsenal fans will remember the paper’s attempts to unsettle Cesc Fabregas 5 years ago. Fabregas reacted angrily after Marca quoted him as saying that he might consider a move to Madrid, asserting that “I have not spoken to any media so it’s frustrating to read quotes that I have supposedly said”. It appears that even with quotes, Marca’s credibility is questionable.

Of course, at the moment it is impossible to predict with 100% accuracy whether Bale will be playing in the white shirt of Madrid or Spurs at the end of the transfer window. Undoubtedly there will be more articles appearing to claim a new ‘twist’ in the Bale saga before the end of the transfer window, and instead of being drawn into such rumours, it is worth remembering what has actually
been said so far. The only words so far from the player himself suggest that he is preparing for next season and is happy at the club. Levy has strongly asserted that the club will not sell its best assets, and there is no reason, yet, to assume that this is just a bargaining tactic. AVB has repeatedly asserted that he has been given full guarantees that his star player will not be sold this summer, and has today reaffirmed that Bale will stay whatever the offer. It is these sources that must be held onto, not the conjecture and suggestive rumours that will surely intensify in the coming weeks.

By Johnny Murwill

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