• Spurs players Gareth Bale, left, and Joe Rodon training with Wales at the Vale Resort ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and the Czech Republic, with a friendly against Mexico sandwiched in the middle. Reuters
    Spurs players Gareth Bale, left, and Joe Rodon training with Wales at the Vale Resort ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and the Czech Republic, with a friendly against Mexico sandwiched in the middle. Reuters
  • Wales and Stoke City loan player Rabbi Matondo training with teammates. Reuters
    Wales and Stoke City loan player Rabbi Matondo training with teammates. Reuters
  • Wales' Gareth Bale during training. Reuters
    Wales' Gareth Bale during training. Reuters
  • Wales' assistant coach Robert Page oversees training in the absence of manager Ryan Giggs. Reuters
    Wales' assistant coach Robert Page oversees training in the absence of manager Ryan Giggs. Reuters
  • Gareth Bale, currently on loan with Tottenham Hotspur, training with Wales. Reuters
    Gareth Bale, currently on loan with Tottenham Hotspur, training with Wales. Reuters
  • Swansea player Connor Roberts and Gareth Bale warm-up during training. Getty
    Swansea player Connor Roberts and Gareth Bale warm-up during training. Getty
  • Stoke midfielder Joe Allen during Wales training. Reuters
    Stoke midfielder Joe Allen during Wales training. Reuters
  • Gareth Bale during training. Getty
    Gareth Bale during training. Getty
  • Wales' Gareth Bale and Joe Allen during training. PA
    Wales' Gareth Bale and Joe Allen during training. PA
  • Wales players during training. Getty
    Wales players during training. Getty
  • Rabbi Matondo during training. Getty
    Rabbi Matondo during training. Getty
  • Gareth Bale during training. Getty
    Gareth Bale during training. Getty
  • Left to right: Derby's Tom Lawrence, Tyler Roberts of Leeds and Hal Robson-Kanu of West Bromwich Albion during Wales training. PA
    Left to right: Derby's Tom Lawrence, Tyler Roberts of Leeds and Hal Robson-Kanu of West Bromwich Albion during Wales training. PA
  • On-loan Sheffiled United midfielder Ethan Ampadu during training. Reuters
    On-loan Sheffiled United midfielder Ethan Ampadu during training. Reuters
  • Gareth Bale celebrates during training. Reuters
    Gareth Bale celebrates during training. Reuters
  • Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu during training. Reuters
    Wales' Hal Robson-Kanu during training. Reuters
  • Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA
    Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA
  • Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA
    Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA
  • On-loan Cardiff player Harry Wilson, right, during training. PA
    On-loan Cardiff player Harry Wilson, right, during training. PA
  • Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA
    Wales' Gareth Bale during training. PA

Gareth Bale planning on Real Madrid return next season once Spurs loan is over


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Gareth Bale has said that he plans on returning to Real Madrid for the final 12 months of his contract next season, once his loan deal with Tottenham Hotspur is over.

Bale re-joined Spurs on a temporary basis this season and while initially struggling with form and fitness, has been playing more regularly in recent weeks.

But the 31-year-old attacker, speaking ahead of Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and the Czech Republic – with a friendly against Mexico sandwiched in the middle – intends to head back to Spain.

"There's no distraction for me," Bale said when asked how his club future might affect his international form.

"I think the main reason I came to Spurs this year was to play football first and foremost ... but going into the Euros, I wanted to be match fit too.

“The original plan was only to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros I still have a year left at Real Madrid and my plan is to go back. That’s as far as I’ve planned to be honest.”

Bale, 31, has scored 10 goals in all competitions for Spurs this season as they sit sixth in the Premier League.

But a surprise elimination from the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia last week sparked a sudden round of speculation about the future of manager Jose Mourinho.

The latest round of international matches came just at the right time for a player who has scored 33 goals in 87 appearances for his country.

"I always think when things aren't going too well at a club, it's nice to get away, especially mentally get away from the club environment. Definitely, it can be a benefit," said Bale, who was left on the bench by Mourinho for Spurs' win over Wolves on Sunday.

"We focus on these games for Wales, which are very important for us. We forget club life and concentrate on this.”