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Nicol: I would have been 'flabbergasted' if Bale chose Cardiff over LAFC (0:44)

The move to LAFC made sense for the forward. There is a time and a place.

5:00 AM ET

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of interest in the future of Bale, as his contract at Real Madrid began to wind down. He is going to Major League Soccer with LAFC.

Bale was the most expensive player in the history of the game when he moved to Real Madrid for 100 million dollars.

According to sources, the 32-year-old was prepared to retire from football if Wales did not reach the World Cup. Wales will play the United States in the first round of the playoffs after beating Ukraine.

Bale needed a new club to keep his fitness up until November and was linked with a return to Wales with the English Championship.

Bale decided to move to Los Angeles due to the lure of the city.

Social media reacted to the news and a look at Bale's impact on the game

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Bale confirms his move

See you soon, Los Angeles. ๐Ÿ‘Š @LAFC @LAFC3252 pic.twitter.com/GVP8WVWLPe

โ€” Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) June 25, 2022

Gareth Bale in his new LAFC threads ๐Ÿคฉ pic.twitter.com/Zx5YqWC3ny

โ€” ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2022

Always destined for MLS?

Gareth Bale said this in 2020 ๐Ÿ‘€ pic.twitter.com/xjMnxi6FAl

โ€” ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2022

Life is good in the USA

โ–ช๏ธ Top of Supporters' Shield standingsโ–ช๏ธ Sign Giorgio Chielliniโ–ช๏ธ Sign Gareth Baleโ–ช๏ธ Re-sign Carlos Vela

Life is good for LAFC ๐Ÿ˜Ž pic.twitter.com/46FVtxTUUY

โ€” B/R Football (@brfootball) June 25, 2022

Gareth Bale ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Lorenzo Insigne ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Xherdan Shaqiri ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ Chicharito ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ

All in MLS. โญ๏ธ ๐ŸŒŸ pic.twitter.com/EiLhntosfG

โ€” Tom Bogert (@tombogert) June 25, 2022

The golf jokes

๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‰ pic.twitter.com/cCmDtoSMho

โ€” ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2022

Wales. Golf. LAFC.#LAFC #Bale pic.twitter.com/0ZGuvhMSqj

โ€” Chris (@_el_chris) June 25, 2022

The real reason Bale signed for LAFC pic.twitter.com/Uc3h7SA6Ar

โ€” El Moon Doughh (@moon_doughh) June 25, 2022

Bale's most memorable moments so far

That's the goal.

๐Ÿšฒโšฝ๐Ÿ’ฅ @GarethBale11's overhead kick in the Champions League final has been nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award 2018! #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/48xQBEn7HB

โ€” Real Madrid C.F. ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ (@realmadriden) September 3, 2018

That help.

This assist from prime Real Madrid Bale ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ pic.twitter.com/IUMB7Ds1a8

โ€” ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2022

The run was that one.

๐Ÿ’จ That EPIC 60-metre run... to win the final!

๐Ÿ‘Ÿ @GarethBale11

๐Ÿ† Copa del Rey 2013/14 ๐Ÿ‘‘

๐Ÿ†š @FCBarcelona @futbolmahou | #TheTasteThatUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/LVLKjRLguf

โ€” Real Madrid C.F. ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ (@realmadriden) April 16, 2020
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Bale's free kick went off of Yarmolenko and into the net to give Wales the lead.

Bale's impact on soccer

The key stats are provided by the sports network.

- He scored 106 goals in 258 games forReal Madrid - 71 goals in 237 games for Tottenham

- 5 goals in 45 games for Southampton

He won 19 awards with Real Madrid. Paco Gento has more European Cup titles than anyone else.

He is the all-time leading goal scorer for Wales with 39 goals in 105 games, but hasn't played in a World Cup finals match.

He will be the 6th Welsh player to play in MLS.

Tottenham

SeasonGamesMinutesTouchesPass%ChancesAssistsGoalsShots
2008-20091699383368.6%110023
2009-2010231,7071,41164.9%395339
2010-2011302,4511,81574.3%481763
2011-2012363,2172,43082.5%88109136
2012-2013332,9242,14378.5%74421165
2020-2021 (Loan)2092361173.2%2121138

Real Madrid

SeasonGamesMinutesTouchesPass%ChancesAssistsGoalsShots
2013-14272,0691,24476.3%41121588
2014-15312,5811,48478.3%51913103
2015-16231,7381,12879.9%50101981
2016-17191,42589678.9%222764
2017-18261,8031,06982.5%4121677
2018-19291,7921,06778.3%183876
2019-20161,09166579.1%122234
2020-21528310572.9%20115