GARETH BALE said today that he plans to end his Tottenham stay at the end of the season and return to Real Madrid, adding that it’s “nice to get away” from his club to play for Wales.

Bale joined Spurs on loan in September and has had a mixed season, with form and fitness issues dominating his second spell in north London.

The 31-year-old’s Madrid contract runs until the end of the 2021-22 season.

“There’s no distraction for me,” Bale said during a press conference ahead of his side’s opening 2022 World Cup qualifier in Belgium tonight.

“I think the main reason I came to Spurs this year was to play football, first and foremost.

“Going into the Euros I wanted to be match-fit. The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros still have a year left at Real Madrid.

“My plan is to go back, that’s as far I have planned.”

Spurs manager Jose Mourinho appeared to question Bale’s attitude after the FA Cup defeat to Everton in February, admitting his surprise that the player asked for a scan on an injury that the Portuguese downplayed as “not obvious.”

But Bale then enjoyed a first-team resurgence, scoring six goals in six games before Spurs’ season took a turn for the worse with a derby defeat to Arsenal and a Europa League exit at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb.

“Over the last few years this is probably the most match fitness I’ve had,” Bale said going into the Belgium tie. “I’m feeling fresh and ready to go.

“I always think when things aren’t going too well at a club, it’s nice to get away, especially mentally, get away from the club environment.

“Definitely it can be a benefit. We focus on these games for Wales, which are very important for us.

“We forget club life and concentrate on this.”

Bale has never played at a World Cup finals and admitted that he would swap one of his four Champions League winners’ medals to grace that stage at Qatar 2022.

“Obviously, realistically, that’s not going to happen,” Bale said when that scenario was put to him. “But why not?

“I remember [Wales] playing Ireland [in 2018 World Cup qualification]. I was up in the stands and it was very frustrating, I felt like I was kicking every ball.

“It was obviously difficult after the game to have the loss and the dream of World Cup qualifying end.

“Hopefully we can draw on those experiences in a positive way and use that hurt to push us even harder this time around.”

Wales are without injured defenders Ben Davies and Tom Lockyer tonight and for their second qualifier against the Czech Republic next Tuesday.

The loss of the 58-times capped Davies will be particularly felt by caretaker manager Robert Page, who described his absence as “significant.”