LAFC hoping to form ‘long-term partnership’ with new signing Gareth Bale

Los Angeles FC are hoping their signing of Gareth Bale will prove a “long-term partnership”.

Wales international Bale revealed on Saturday he had agreed to join the Major League Soccer club following his release by Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old had been looking for a new club to maintain his fitness ahead of the World Cup later this year.

Making LAFC’s first official comment on the deal, co-president John Thorrington did not discuss the length of Bale’s contract but expressed confidence it would go beyond this winter’s tournament in Qatar.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Thorrington said: “I’d love to get into specifics but, as policy, I don’t.

“What I can tell you is that LAFC and Gareth are hoping that this is a long-term partnership and step for Gareth and his family.

“It was never about six months just for the World Cup. We were always talking about longer term than that. That was very clear from Gareth and his representative.

“Obviously we expect him to be a top, top player for us and in this league, but we will do so sensibly.

“When Gareth is looking at what he needs to do, his priority will be at LAFC, we are absolutely sure of that, but we’re not naive to the fact that he, like some other players of ours, have a World Cup on the horizon.”

Bale is due to arrive in Los Angeles in the coming weeks and has been pencilled in for a potential debut against local rivals LA Galaxy early next month.

Thorrington, who is also the club’s general manager, said: “We don’t have a firm date. Our window opens in early July and that will be the first time we can register him.

“We still have to go through immigration paperwork and things like that but we are hopeful that in the next week to 10 days we’ll be able to take