' Gareth Bale would have 'made millions' if '

The Independent

Gareth Bale would have 'made millions' if Real Madrid star had picked England over Wales, says agent Jonathan Barnett
Bale was eligible to play through his grandmother

September 2015


It would be nice if the mighty Gareth Bale and chums would throw their lot in with England

Gareth Bale has missed out on “millions” in sponsorship deals by refusing to play for England, his agent said. Jonathan Barnett revealed that when he attempted to persuade the winger to represent England, Bale’s Welsh parents, Frank and Debbie, were vehemently against it.

Speaking at the Soccerex Convention in Manchester, Barnett said: “When we first got together when he was 15, we talked about whether he was going to play for England or Wales. I nearly got my head bitten off by his dad, who is fanatically Welsh, and his mum.




“He could have qualified through his grandmother and I tell you that it has cost him millions and millions of pounds. You can imagine what it would have been like if he were playing for England next summer in the Euros... but he does love playing for Wales.”

Barnett insisted that, despite a difficult second season at Real Madrid, Bale had no desire to leave and was looking forward to playing in the new role coach Rafa Benitez has given him.

He said: “Now, he is not playing wide right, he is playing more centrally and that is going to suit him more and give him the sort of freedom he has with Wales. He enjoys that role because he was getting a little frustrated.

“Last season he didn’t get the ball that much and when he did get it was slow. By the time he received it, there were already three men on him.”


Barnett acknowledged that Bale had not been popular with a section of Real Madrid fans. “It is because the fans love Ronaldo,” he said. “If you watch the way Real Madrid play this season, I think you will see a shift. I think things are maybe changing.”

Interesting read, but Bale is Welsh and no amount of shenanigans should allow him to play for anyone else!

Also interesting that all this is coming out now the self-styled "Mighty England" have been usurped by the little nation from which Gareth Bale comes

As they say, timing is everything!

goes without saying there is more money commercially as an England International than a Welsh one.

Bale being one of the highest earners in World football, and playing for Wales suffices

Interesting read, but Bale is Welsh and no amount of shenanigans should allow him to play for anyone else!

Also interesting that all this is coming out now the self-styled "Mighty England" have been usurped by the little nation from which Gareth Bale comes

As they say, timing is everything!

Most players only choose another country other than their birth country because they're not normally good enough to get in their home country's team anyway. In Gareth's case,that was never going to be a problem so he made the right choice.Also, on £300,000 a week,give or take a few quid,he's hardly going to go short of cash. People go on about qualifying through grandparents but a player can qualify through 5 years continuous residence of the country they may wish to play for. A friend of mine told me about this the other day,which is something I wasn't aware of.

He madee millions

Most players only choose another country other than their birth country because they're not normally good enough to get in their home country's team anyway. In Gareth's case,that was never going to be a problem so he made the right choice.Also, on £300,000 a week,give or take a few quid,he's hardly going to go short of cash. People go on about qualifying through grandparents but a player can qualify through 5 years continuous residence of the country they may wish to play for. A friend of mine told me about this the other day,which is something I wasn't aware of.

Thought that there was an agreement between the home countries, (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), that we did not take advantage of this. That's how some Brazilian bloke scored for Croatia against Wales a couple of years back. There is a newish rule about five years of compulsory schooling, though, that would have, for example, have made Ryan Giggs eligible for England. Or Shawcross for Wales .

Your main point is true, though. Jack Grealish this week.

Grandmother rule or not, Bale is simply Welsh. Brought up in Whitchurch.

You may be right about the home countries not abusing this rule but any player has to be over 18 before the rule can start,according to FIFA website.

Play for your proud country f**k the money.

You may be right about the home countries not abusing this rule but any player has to be over 18 before the rule can start,according to FIFA website.

Qualification for this or that country is complicated these days! Just been reading the paper, where it says that it will take a few weeks to sort out the paperwork involved in Jack Grealish's switch from the Repubblic of Ireland, (every level from u-15 to u-21), to England, even though he was born in Solihull. England are hoping to fast-track it.

He shouldn't be allowed to play for England after going caps for the Republic of Ireland I know they weren't fully caps they where under 21s under 19 under15 I think this winds me right up once you have Been capped by a country that's it there's no going back doesn't matter what level it is you have to play for that country

He shouldn't be allowed to play for England after going caps for the Republic of Ireland I know they weren't fully caps they where under 21s under 19 under15 I think this winds me right up once you have Been capped by a country that's it there's no going back doesn't matter what level it is you have to play for that country

Totally agree it seems a lot of youngsters are doing this now, by playing for the country of their grandparents up to U21 level to get noticed and then switching back to the country of their birth

Shame that he is losing millions. I really feel for him.
And so long to wait for his old age pension and cold winter allowance as well.

At least he is a proud Welshman.

His consolation maybe that if he stays in Spain in his old age,he won't need the winter allowance. I agree as soon as a player is capped at whatever level,that should be it,they shouldn't be able to swap countries.