These last few weeks have been a whirlwind for LAFC.
Already one of the best teams in MLS, the fifth-year squad has not been content to simply rest of its laurels, especially as it looks to lift a trophy for the first time in its history. Earlier, the team made a big move to strengthen is back line, bringing in Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian Center Back who became one of the best defenders in all of Europe.
Even then, LAFC is refusing to sit still, as they unveiled its latest high-profile acquisition on Monday afternoon. LAFC officially introduced Gareth Bale as a member of its team, and Bale is eager to hit the ground running and help LAFC win trophies.
“Just an exciting time to be in the MLS,” Bale said. “This club is really on the rise. It’s amazing to be here and witness what the club is all about. I’m just excited to get started and to try and help this club.”
Bale has had a legendary career, from North London with Tottenham Hotspur, where he built his reputation as an up and coming worldwide superstar while also help lift Tottenham from a middling Premier League club to a squad that expects to be a part of the UEFA Champions League every season, to Spain for Real Madrid, where he helped Los Blancos maintain its magnificent heights, particularly on the European stage. During his time with Madrid, Bale won five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cup Titles, three European Super Cup Championships, three La Liga Championships, three Spanish Super Cup Trophies and one Copa Del Rey Title.
The last few years though were tough for Bale. First, he played a total of just 21 La Liga matches over the last two seasons he was with Madrid, in fact, Bale only featured in five matches this past season, and not even a brief return stint with Tottenham was enough to shake him out of his funk. Even before that, there were signs the two parties were ready to move on, as a move to China to play for Jiangsu Suning was in the works, but collapsed when the two sides could not agree to terms. Bale however has put all that behind him and is ready to get back on the pitch in his new home in Los Angeles.
“I’m looking forward to getting properly started,” Bale said. “I enjoyed my first training session with the team today, and yeah, can’t wait to get going.”
Bale comes to an LAFC squad that is the best in MLS at this moment. LAFC currently sits atop the Western Conference with a 12-4-3 record and 37 points, two points clear of second-place Austin FC and six points ahead of the Eastern Conference leader New York Red Bulls. Bale is excited to play on the Left Wing, opposite of fellow winger Carlos Vela, whose six goals and eight assists has rejuvenated LAFC after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season. Now Bale is looking to help LAFC cap off its turnaround season with its first ever MLS Cup title.
“What he’s done for this club since he’s been here has been amazing,” Bale said of Vela’s impact on LAFC. “He’s been a big player for this club and just training with him this morning and chatting with him this morning, I’ve known him and played against him in the past. Yeah, we get on very well and looking forward to light up a partnership with him.”
Should Bale help LAFC deliver an MLS Cup this October, it will be quite the transition for Bale this fall. Bale will then transition to international duty, as he will lead Wales into its first World Cup in 64 years. Bale and Wales had already spent the last five years establishing themselves as a contender in Europe, reaching the semifinals of Euro 2016, then advancing to the Round of 16 in Euro 2020.
