Madrid-based golfer Gareth Bale has his heart set on a return to England, it has emerged.
Having spent the past two years golfing in the Spanish capital, Bale has instructed his agent to find him some nice English courses to play on next season.
The 31-year-old was spotted in Finland yesterday while indulging in his secondary passion of football.
Bale, who has a reported handicap of five, says he would be open to a return to England but claims his employers Real Madrid are ‘making it difficult’.
Frustrated by a lack of golfing time, the Welshman came close to a move to China last year which failed to materialise.
“All these footballing commitments are seriously impacting my time spent on the course’, Bale told Paddy Power News.
“Just because they pay me £600k-per-week they (Real Madrid) think they can tell me what to do. I’ve told my agent to find me a new club in England.”
When asked if he’d any preference, Bale replied: “Wentworth or Bearwood Lakes would be nice.”
Bale was with the Wales squad in Helsinki while preparing for their Nations League match against Finland.
Asked if he was looking forward to the game, Bale said: “Obviously, my main passion is golf. But I love meeting up with the guys for a kickabout every few months.
“I hope it’s something we continue to do – even when everyone is married and settled down.”
Quizzed on whether it was a relief to escape the spotlight in Madrid to spend a few days with the Welsh national side, Bale answered: “No, not at all. You know me. Club before country,” while swinging a Honma Beres gold driver.
Meanwhile, Wales boss Ryan Giggs is relishing tonight’s Nations League opener against the Finns.
The 46-year-old says his side have nothing to fear, despite their poor form on the road of late. He said: “I’ve always preferred playing away from home.”
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