Ex-Real Madrid assistant coach Franco: Bale had offers to leave year ago

Former Real Madrid assistant coach Pablo Franco has revealed Gareth Bale had plenty of offers to leave a year ago.

Franco is amazed that Bale is now considering a move to China.

"It surprises me that a player like him would go to play there," Franco told Radio MARCA about a possible move to China for Bale.

Franco admitted that Bale had options to leave Real Madrid last year but decided to stay after Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.

"I was in a very different situation to now in regard to Bale," Franco said. "There was a lot of interest in him while [Franco and Julen Lopetegui] were there.

"He felt that he could be important after Cristiano left and he wanted to have more responsibility."