With three weeks to go until the start of the new La Liga season one of the soap opera plots is reaching a conclusion and that could mean a big name heading for China.
It seems the ‘will he won’t he stay at the Bernabeu?’ saga is nearing an end for Gareth Bale, and not before time. He has been dominating the La Liga 2019 news over the past few weeks and now the Welsh winger looks set to sigh a £1m a week deal to go join Chinese club Jiangsu Suning; and if he does, that will be the end of a rather grumpy relationship between player and club.
Since arriving in a big money switch from Tottenham Hotspur Bale has never been a fans’ favourite at the Bernabeu. Team-mate Marcelo revealed last season that the former Spurs star didn’t contribute much at all in the dressing room and hadn’t learnt to speak Spanish. And his refusal to celebrate goals in the latter part of the season really got the fans’ backs up.
Well, his move to Jiangsu Suning seems to be drawing nearer and the proposed three year deal will see Bale earning an eye-watering 22 million Euros a season. Head coach Zinedine Zidane has been less than enthusiastic in any attempts to keep Bale at the club and seems happy to wave him on his way, saying: “I have not disrespected anyone and much less a player. The club is dealing with his departure. Period.
Well that appears to be that.
Atleti give Los Blancos a Real Bashing
There have been no holds barred in the spending of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico as the big three prepare for the new season, and we had a chance to see some of the stars in action when the Madrid giants met in the International Champions Cup in New Jersey on Friday. It turned out to be Los Rojiblancos’ day as they gave their city rivals a 7-3 hammering.
We won’t be slashing the SBOBET odds either way after this result, but it won’t half have pleased Atleti coach Diego Simeone and the club’s passionate fans. Enfant Terrible Diego Costa was in scintillating form, scoring a hat-trick and he still managed to get himself sent off. But that’s just a normal sort of day for our Diego!
Los Blancos fielded a strong side including new signings Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic, but they were blown away in the first half, defending like amateurs, and Atleti slammed in five unanswered goals. Record signing Joao Felix put on Costa for his first and that signalled a rout.
But in leaving the field of play Costa managed to get Real’s Dani Carvajal sent off too as they were both red-carded for fighting.
It looks like the Madrid derby is going to be tasty!
Saturday Football Please
The very latest La Liga 2019 betting odds are predicting another successful campaign for Barcelona, but if the Catalans thought they’d steal an opening day march on their rivals then they are wrong.
Fans have been fed up about matches being shifted around for television for some time, yearning for the days when Saturday was football day. And the Spanish authorities have been listening. The Royal Spanish Football Federation has ruled that Friday and Monday games can’t be played without its approval.
As a result Barca’s opening fixture against Athletic Bilbao has been moved from Friday 16th July to Saturday. This news will please Alaves fans in particular. In February they held a mock funeral during their victory over Levante in protest at it being a Monday night television match.
Strange thing to do…but you have to admire their commitment.
New deals for Leganes and Betis
So it’s all bubbling up and we welcome the new boys, Osasuna, Granada and Mallorca who have a tough season ahead but plenty of excitement to come.
Deals are still happening and Leganes have moved to make the signing of midfield star Martin Braithwaite permanent after an impressive loan in the second half of last season.
Meanwhile Real Betis have pulled off an impressive signing with the move of Olympique Lyonnais skipper Nabil Fekir to La Liga for an initial fee in the region of 20 million Euros. The attacking midfielder was a target for Liverpool last season but failed a medical leading the Anfield club to pull out.
But he’s a real livewire and if he manages to stay fit I’d say Betis have got themselves a real bargain.
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