Wales international Bale is on the brink of moving to the Chinese Super League from Spanish giants Real Madrid in a stunning deal which could be worth in-excess of £1million-per-week.

Gareth Bale had been expected to sign a three-year deal worth a reported £1million a week but reports from Spain indicated Real Madrid have pulled the plug on the deal.

The Republic head into the clash with the Group D favourites sitting top of the pile with 10 points from a possible 12, but knowing they face their sternest test yet at the Aviva Stadium.

Gareth Bale insisted a tumultuous summer at Real Madrid has not been the worst moment of his career as he broke his silence to fire back at the critics.

Since completing his big-money move from Spurs in 2013, Bale has been routinely criticised for not fully immersing himself into Spanish culture, with many claiming the winger cannot speak the language.

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION:David Cotterill is facing legal action from at least seven former team-mates after being accused of cheating them out of a combined total of almost £400,000.

Wales fought to a creditable draw at home against Croatia but qualification for Euro 2020 is now out of their hands. 

We've had several days of international games, with a few shocks, lots of goals, and plenty of action to digest. Sportsmail runs you through everything we learned this week.

A day after qualifying for Euro 2020, the whole squad suited up to visit Pope Francis, presenting him a personalised Italy football shirt, with Francis' actual surname 'Bergoglio' on the back.

Roberto Mancini has extended his contract as Italy boss until 2022 after sealing qualifcation for Euro 2020. The former Man City boss will remain in charge until the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Real Madrid's Modric, who lined up against Bale for Croatia on Sunday, has emphasised his team-mate's importance to the La Liga giants and is eager for him to remain at the club.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini has refused to rule out handing Euro 2020 call ups to Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele de Rossi despite the pair not featuring in the Azzurri's qualification campaign.

Swansea manager Steve Cooper revealed after the 1-0 win over Cardiff that the 22-year-old will be out for two months with an ankle tendon injury. Rodon will have surgery this week.

The Welshman looked set to leave in the summer following interest from the Chinese Super League but while a move collapsed, reports in Spain say his team will make an effort to leave in January.

Former Wales manager Chris Coleman is eager to get back into management after a spell in the Chinese Super League with Hebei China Fortune.

The 30-year-old has not featured for the La Liga giants since Wales' 1-1 draw with Croatia on October 13 due to a calf injury. But Bale was included in the Wales squad this week.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed that the pair are not ready to feature for Real Madrid in their clash against Eibar on Saturday evening.

A number of teams have released the shirts they will be wearing at Euro 2020 next summer. The likes of Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium have all unveiled their kits.

Gareth Bale trained with the Wales squad ahead of their decisive Euro 2020 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Hungary. Real Madrid star Bale has not played since suffering a calf injury.

The UEFA-appointed female translator was removed following the bizarre question with concerns that she didn't possess the knowledge or experience, according to The Sun.

Gareth Bale heads into Wales' decisive Euro 2020 qualifiers admitting he is more excited to play for his country than Real Madrid. Bale has been at the centre of a Spanish media storm.

Sportsmail's DANIEL DAVIS will provide live coverage including score, lineups and build-up, with full commentary of Spain vs Malta and Bosnia vs Italy.

Italy continued their renaissance as they cruised to an impressive 3-0 win away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday night and made it nine wins out of nine in Euro 2020 Group J.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for Euro 2020 play-offs including when they will begin, how the play-offs work, play-offs format, teams involved and more.

After a career in top-level football spanning nearly three decades, Ryan Giggs will finally fulfil his dream of competing at a major tournament with Wales.

Gareth Bale risked further upsetting the Real Madrid hierarchy as he danced with a Welsh flag bearing the lyrics to the song 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order'.

The forward posed with a flag with the words 'Wales, golf, Madrid... in that order' on it after securing Euro 2020 qualification on Tuesday night after fans sang a song with those lyrics.

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN CARDIFF: Aaron Ramsey is determined to help Wales eclipse their memorable Euro 2016 campaign after scoring twice to send them to next year's Finals.

The Wales star helped his country qualify for next summer's European Championships during the international break, and was snapped with the contentious flag while celebrating.

The Spanish media are still raging over Gareth Bale's celebrations this week where he appeared to mock Real Madrid with a banner unfurled after his country had booked their place at Euro 2020.

Bale posed with a flag with the words 'Wales, golf, Madrid... in that order' on it after Wales secured Euro 2020 qualification last week. His celebrations have led to controversy in Spain.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: Wales fans face a nightmare odyssey across Europe - including three separate trips to Baku - if they repeat Euro 2016 and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

On Wednesday night, Zinedine Zidane's side enjoyed a break from their arduous schedule by hitting the town and going out for a squad meal to celebrate Christmas.

The FA have announced that England are set to face Italy on the 27th March at Wembley Stadium. It comes as they continue their preparations for the Euro 2020 which kicks off in June.

MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: Marcus Rashford is being courted by Roc Nation, the American entertainment agency founded by rapper Jay-Z.

England have dodged the proverbial 'group of death' at the next UEFA Nations League tournament after drawing Iceland, Denmark and Belgium in the group stages.

When your father has left Cardiff City to become Liverpool's centre forward and managed the great Real Madrid twice, it's fair to say taking on a challenge is in your blood.

Ramsey pledged the money to the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which serves an area including Caerphilly, where the midfielder was born.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has attempted to recreate his iconic Champions League final goal in his living room to raise money for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Bale has long been loathed by Madrid supporters and targeted as a scapegoat when the Spanish giants underperform, with Bale nearing the exit door this summer.

In Saturday's Daily Mail, chief sports writer Martin Samuel considered the growing conflict between top and bottom over restarting the season. Now he responds to reader comments.

The Hammers as well as Everton had shown interest in the Barcelona striker who only arrived at the Nou Camp in February for £15m in a controversial emergency signing approved by La Liga.

Mario Gotze is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer with the German wanting to take on a new challenge.

Baseball's London Series has become the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic after Major League Baseball cancelled this summer's event at West Ham's London Stadium.

Arsenal invincible Robert Pires ended up in the Midlands and Rio Ferdinand learned his craft on the south coast with Bournemouth. But who has been forgotten at each Premier League side?

Sanchez is currently on loan at Inter Milan from Manchester United but has struggled to make much of an impact in Italy amid recurring injury issues. He has played just 15 matches this season.

Nunez, who would bring a youthful presence to the Gunners' defence at the age of 23, has a release clause of £26.45million and, according to La Razon, the Gunners are prepared to meet it.

Javier Hernandez says his experience at Manchester United was 'bittersweet' as he tried to balance enjoying the journey and not getting overwhelmed.

After impressing under Harry Redknapp at Upton Park, Ferguson called the then 33-year-old on Christmas Day in 2001 about a move to United - much to the shock of the Italian maverick.

Maja has impressed since breaking onto the scene with the Black Cats in 2016. The 21-year-old scored 17 goals in 49 games for the club before his acrimonious exit for France in January 2019.