Recent reports are out that Real Madrid is set to include a mind-boggling £427 million release clause on Gareth Bale's incoming contract extension with the La Liga giants which will effectively fend off Manchester United's interest.
The Guardian reported that Real wants to keep the 27-year-old Wales international for the rest of his "top-level career" and is preparing to extend his current contract at the Bernabéu for Cristiano Ronaldo-like wages.
What is most interesting about the news, though, was that Bale's contract would said to include a buyout clause that is almost five times the size of what the Red Devils paid Juventus for Paul Pogba, which was a staggering £89.3 million, to break Bale's old world transfer record, as per Caught Offside.
Bale previously held the status of football's most expensive transfer of all time when he was bought by Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for £85.3 million.
United is reportedly keen on breaking the record again as they try to target the 6-foot Cardiff, Wales native next summer, but with the soon-to-be release clause that they have to pay for Bale virtually makes it impossible for a deal to happen.
Real president Florentino Perez also said that in the case of Ronaldo, the transfer fee would be an out-of-this-world £860 million or €1 billion, according to the report.
The article noted, however, that the negotiations for Bale's extension was "protracted and complicated" given the massive amount involved. It said that the "structure of the contract and the legal small print have led to plenty of back-and-forth".
Still, Bale is expected to end up with the reigning UEFA Champions League winners for the long term as both parties are said to be willing "to reach a resolution". Bale is reportedly being prepared by Los Vikingos to replace Ronaldo as the face of the club in the future.
Bale was acquired by Real in September 2013 for the abovementioned record-breaking deal from English Premier League side Tottenham. In four seasons so far, including three games in the present one, Bale had appeared in a total of 127 matches in all competitions for Los Blancos and was able to score 60 goals in the process.