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The future of Wales international, Gareth Bale, at Real Madrid is under threat going by UK’s vote to leave the European Union (EU).
Sport lawyer, Carol Couse of Mills & Reeve, told AS the decision may constraint employment of UK football stars elsewhere due to Spain and Italy’s cap on non-EU players.
Teams in Spain are among those subject to a cap on non-EU players, something Wales international Bale would become when the UK’s exit is perfected.
Technically, Real would now be over the limit of three because of the presence of James Rodriguez, Danilo, Casemiro and Bale, though reports suggest it could take anywhere between two and seven years for the withdrawal to be ratified.
Couse told AS: “From a football perspective I guess we have the likes of Gareth Bale and when we’re talking of those sorts of players, yes, in theory there may be constraints on their employment elsewhere.
“The likes of Italy and Spain have caps on non-EU players so down the line Gareth Bale may be considered a non-EU player and subject to this cap.
“But I think those players of the very highest calibre they’re going to be recruited in any event. I think it is probably the less high calibre players that may struggle.”