Gareth Bale: Real Madrid Reality, Turning Down United & Life With Ronaldo | Stick to Football 119
Stick to Football
The Overlap
4.2 • 969 Ratings
🗓️ 5 March 2026
⏱️ 95 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome back to a huge episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE.
Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Jill Scott, Roy Keane and Ian Wright are joined by former Spurs, Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale for a fascinating look back at his incredible career.
We dive into the reality of playing for Real Madrid, the pressure that comes with the badge and what it was really like sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. under Zinedine Zidane. And yes, the golf debate makes an appearance too.
Bale also reflects on his rise to superstardom at Tottenham, revealing that a move to Manchester United was on the table not once, but twice.
From Champions League glory to leading Wales on the international stage, he opens up on the highs, the scrutiny and life after football, including his spell in MLS and what keeps him busy now.
Who is the greatest Welsh footballer of all time? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Overlap.
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Stick to Football is brought to you by our partners ARNE clothing
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00:00 Intro
09:37 Real Madrid Spotlight
26:02 Ronaldo’s Relentless Drive
38:33 Spurs Breakthrough and Career Choices
50:27 Spurs’ Current Troubles
54:51 United Links
57:31 Wales
01:13:31 Retirement and Life After
01:25:20 Quickfire Questions
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show. Gareth, did you want a coffee or tea? I'll have a... I'll just have water, please. Water, sure. Thank you. How much did Tottenham pay for you? Gariff. They bought me for 10, and then I think there was a... Somebody in the end ended up going the other way, like a year later. I don't know. Okay. So it was 10. |
| 0:24.1 | Did they have a selling on you? and then I think there was a somebody in the end ended up going the other way like a year later |
| 0:21.8 | and I don't know okay so it was 10 million |
| 0:24.2 | did they have a selling on you no |
| 0:26.2 | I don't think so |
| 0:27.5 | how much need you go for to Madrid |
| 0:29.3 | 86 87 not put a cell on yeah |
| 0:33.0 | wow yeah probably yeah they might have I actually have no idea |
| 0:36.1 | you okay I'm good, how are you? |
| 0:37.5 | Good, yeah, good, thanks, good. |
| 0:38.8 | It's been a while. |
| 0:39.4 | Are you good job? |
| 0:40.5 | Yeah, when did we do league? |
| 0:42.3 | It was probably like two and a half years ago. |
| 0:44.7 | Oh my God, I'm fixing up. |
| 0:46.1 | It was like last evening. |
| 0:46.8 | I know, because I, it was just a... |
| 0:48.5 | How are you? Yeah, all good. This is nice. This is nice. He said if some, you would love. Look at the golf mates. See, cool. This is what we do. Because we play golf? Well, he's had a shave and everything. I had a shave. Yeah. It's a shirt. Yeah, I thought that was like last year. I know know I'm pretty sure it was just after I retired |
| 1:12.0 | since Jamie was Oh yeah He was hounding me to come on So I was like Yeah, I'm coming on Garif, let's start with golf Right, right you can't wait to talk about I love golf Come on, let's talk about golf You're a scratch, you're a scratch golf Yeah One second, sorry I guess Does that mean, like, literally, if it says part three, you'll do it in three? |
| 1:29.0 | Well, you, one second. Sorry, I just... Does that mean, like, literally, if it says par three, you'll do it in three? |
| 1:29.0 | Well, you don't always, but... No, Garrett... No, but Garrett... We've been a couple of fours yesterday. It's pretty impressive. Have you played together, like, and then pro-am things, or not played together yet, but we will do. Absolutely will do. Remember I just had my niece |
| 1:41.8 | I'm just coming back |
... |
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