Gareth Bale set to stay at Real Madrid after cancelled China move - reports

Welsh forward had been expected to complete a move to Jiangsu Suning but reports claim Real Madrid have called off the deal

epa07743325 Gareth Bale of Real Madrid takes the field during the second half of the International Champions Cup (ICC) soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, 26 July 2019.  EPA/JUSTIN LANE
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Gareth Bale looks set to stay at Real Madrid for another season after the Spanish club cancelled his proposed move to China, according to media reports.

The 30-year-old Welsh forward had been expected to join Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning on a three-year contract where he would reportedly earn around £1 million (Dh4.55m) per week.

However, the BBC reported on Sunday that the move has been called off by Real Madrid, although no details as to why have been given.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has made it clear that Bale is not in his plans, stating earlier this month that it would be "best for everyone" for the player to leave the club. It triggered an angry response from Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett, who labelled Zidane a "disgrace".

Despite his impending departure, Bale played and scored for Madrid during a pre-season game against Arsenal, although Zidane insisted post-match that "nothing had changed" over the forward's future. Bale also came off the bench during the 7-3 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Since moving to the Bernabeu in 2013 for a world record £85m, Bale has scored 102 goals, making him the 14th most prolific player in Real Madrid history, and won nine major trophies.

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