Real Madrid have dropped a major hint over the future of former Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, with a baffling decision to hand him a new shirt number.
Previously the occupier of the No.11 shirt at the Santiago Bernabeu ahead of his loan return to Spurs last season, he appears to have been handed a fresh number ahead of the 2021/22 La Liga season.
The Spanish giants took on AC Milan in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, with Bale selected by Real boss Carlo Ancelotti in the starting line-up.
There was a completely different look for the Welshman, however, as he donned the No.50 shirt instead of his regular number.
Whilst pre-season numbers cannot be read into too much, it was telling that the rest of the squad were all wearing their original shirt numbers, one of the only changes being David Alaba awarded the No.4 following the departure of long-term captain Sergio Ramos.
Having held the No.11 shirt since he arrived in Madrid from Tottenham back in 2013, it could therefore suggest that the 32-year-old does not have much of a future with his current employers.
Indeed, he had been linked with a return to Spurs following a successful loan spell in north London last season where the Welshman netted 15 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.
Following the strange decision over his shirt number, Bale’s day did not really improve all that much as he won but also missed a penalty in the first-half against Milan.
He has just one year left to run on his current Real Madrid contract.
