'I actually wish I came over earlier' - Real Madrid and Tottenham legend Gareth Bale reflects on late-career move to MLS with LAFC

The five-time Champions League winner offered a straightforward assessment of the financial realities that keep European players away from MLS during their peak years.

"Unfortunately, a lot of players come over towards the end of their careers. I did the same, but I really loved my time here, I actually wish I came over earlier," Bale told Front Office Sports. “But if you’re getting offered a lot more money in Europe, you’re not really going take less salary to come here and grow the game, unfortunately. We’d all love to do that, but it’s not really viable. It’s a job at the end of the day.”

LAFC were Bale's final professional stop before retiring in January 2023, playing in 12 league matches and scoring two goals in that stretch. He is fondly remembered for his heroics in the 2022 MLS Cup, where his third overall goal - a header - for the club sealed their first league title. 

Bale believes if MLS can add more investment toward players, bigger stars will come to the league. 

“If you can get more money into football in MLS and [then you can] attract more players over, because you have the cities, the stadiums, the fanbase. But something’s not quite right yet,” Bale explained.

Bale emphasized how much he enjoyed the lifestyle aspects of playing in America's premier cities. The appeal extended beyond just the player himself to encompass family considerations.

“My time in L.A., I loved it, I loved traveling to those different cities,” Bale added. “They are iconic. Going to New York, playing in L.A., going to Texas. They’re cool places to go to, never mind playing football.

“The appeal of living in a major city is amazing. For me to be able to come live in L.A. and experience that. My kids, my wife, my family, and me living there was cool. And then to play and experience other things was really cool. And I’m lucky enough to win everything with LAFC that season. So I ticked the box.”

Since announcing his retirement from professional football in January 2023, Bale has largely stepped away from soccer to focus on his well-documented passion for golf. The former Wales captain participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am just weeks after ending his playing career and has continued developing his golf-related business ventures, including his partnership with TaylorMade to create a golf apparel line.