Gareth Bale certainly had a life to envy in Madrid – but will have to start again as he heads for a new chapter in Los Angeles.
15Gareth Bale’s Madrid home is closer to his favourite golf than to both the Bernabeu and Real Madrid’s training ground
15Even when fit last season, Bale has largely been consigned to the benchCredit: Getty
The Welshman, 32, is passionate about playing for his country, and is desperate to feature at the World Cup in Qatar.
And he’s now heading Stateside for a stint with LAFC as he prepares for this winter’s showpiece.
Back in Madrid, he lived in a stunning £6.5million home, has a car collection that features a Ferrari, Mercedes and Audi, as well as a stunning golf course on his doorstep.
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Bale was holed up in the exclusive La Finca neighbourhood, home to Madrid’s wealthiest.
Former boss Zidane was a neighbour, team-mate Karim Benzema is nearby, while Cristiano Ronaldo used to live there.
Bale’s home was rented by Real Madrid legend Kaka before he moved on to pastures new.
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15Bale rents a £6.5million home in the La Finca neighbourhoodCredit: Solar Pix
15Bale often shares glimpses of the property on social media
15The property has a swimming pool
15Originally, Kaka rented Bale’s current home
And it’s a wonder of modern architecture, created by Joaquin Torres and worth in the region of £6.5million.
Bale paid around £10,000-per-month in rent to stay in the Pozuelo de Alarcón part of La Finca, in an amazing 1,500 square metre property that is built on two-storeys.
It boasts four bedrooms, an indoor pool, gym, two utility rooms, several terraces and porches, as well as a six-car garage.
CARS
Earning more than £600,000-per-week before tax, Bale has plenty of change left over from his rental property.
And through the years, he has added some of the best cars a footballer can drive.
Alongside a £165,000 Mercedes SLS AMG, Bale has been seen riding in a £152,000 Bentley Continental GT, a £156,000 Lamborghini Huracan, as well as a £230,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso.
With Real Madrid’s players getting a pick of Audi motors thanks to a huge sponsorship deal, the winger also treated himself to a £65,000 Audi Q7 50 TDI last Christmas.
15Bale’s car collection includes this amazing Mercedes SLS AMG worth £165,000
15This £156,000 Lamborghini Huracan also belongs to Bale
15Most recently, Bale treated himself to a new AudiCredit: Darren Fletcher – The Sun
15Bale knows how to live the high-life in SpainGOLF
After all, that handicap won’t improve itself.
Bale has been accused in the past of caring more about golf than playing for Real Madrid.
In his grand estate in Glamorgan, Wales he built a three-hole golf course that are replicas of the 12th at Augusta, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp and the tricky par-three 17th at Sawgrass.
To feed his golf fix in Madrid, Bale belongs to the members-only Ciudad Grupo Santander.
A golf course co-designed by Seve Ballesteros, it stretches out to nearly 7,500 yards from the back tees.
For a special day out, he will drive to the Real Club de Valderrama in San Roque, Andalusia.
When he takes a holiday, Bale makes sure he picks a retreat with a golf course.
His preferred choice is the five-star Finca Cortesin in Marbella that boasts an 18-hole course, as well as two outdoor pools and a private beach club with infinity pool, restaurant and bar.
Rooms are priced at around £900-per-night.
15Bale has been accused of caring more about golf than Real Madrid
15Bale belongs to the members-only Ciudad Grupo Santander in Madrid
15Whenever Bale picks a holiday he makes sure there’s a golf course on siteCHILDHOOD SWEETHEART
While his loyalty to Real Madrid has been questioned, his love for childhood sweetheart Emma Rhys-Jones, 30, has never been in doubt.
The pair met at Whitchurch High School and began dating in the early noughties.
In 2016, they got engaged, but their romance has had its difficulties.
Her dad Martin was released from prison after being imprisoned for fraud for six months in the US.
Emma banned him from a wedding that was initially scheduled for 2018, after he moved in with a florist half his age, Alina Baranova.
While other members of her family including her aunt Jane Burns have been embroiled in a violent drugs feud.
15Bale and Rhys-Jones married in 2016
15With such an incredible lifestyle in Madrid it’s easy to see why Bale doesn’t want to leaveCredit: Getty Images – GettyREAD MORE ON THE SUN
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In 2019, Gareth and Emma married in a hush-hush ceremony at a five-star hotel on a Majorcan island in front of just 60 guests.
Guests were told of the location only 24-hours before the big day, and were asked to hand in their mobile phones to security guards as they entered the hotel.
