MLS-linked Bale highly unlikely to leave Real Madrid in summer

Gareth Bale doesn't seem set for a move to North America anytime soon after his representative talked down a Real Madrid exit in either the January or summer transfer window.

Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy are considering a lucrative offer for the Welsh attacker, Spanish outlet Eldesmarque reported on Monday. However, agent Jonathan Barnett dismissed a Major League Soccer switch for his client when quizzed on the rumors by ESPN's Alex Kirkland.

Barnett said Bale is "going nowhere" in January and that it's "very unlikely" his client will depart the Spanish capital in the summer.

The 30-year-old is contracted at Real Madrid until 2022 and would demand a substantial pay packet should he choose to leave the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos are also understood to want a hefty transfer fee for the player they bought for around €100.8 million in 2013 despite manager Zinedine Zidane wanting to offload the former Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur wideman last summer.

Bale was jeered by Real Madrid fans in November for displaying a banner that read, "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order." while on international duty. He has scored twice over 12 appearances in La Liga this season and sat out Wednesday's 3-1 Supercopa semifinal victory over Valencia with a respiratory infection.

In October, the Cardiff native was reportedly keen to force a January transfer from Real Madrid. He was apparently on the verge of joining Jiangsu Suning of the Chinese Super League before the 2019-20 campaign kicked off.