Make no mistake – there is genuinely strong interest from Manchester United to sign Gareth Bale. And it is an interest that has not wavered since failing in a £100 million bid to gazump Real Madrid’s £85 million acquisition of Bale in August 2013.
At that time United made it clear they would do whatever it took to bring Bale to Old Trafford with the then manager David Moyes travelling to London for informal talks with Tottenham Hotspur’s technical director Franco Baldini on Aug 18. The pair spoke after Spurs’ 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. Moyes was told it was too late.
By then a deal was pretty much in place with Real and Bale had his heart set on the move. Spurs, contrary to the perceived wisdom that chairman Daniel Levy would not sell to another Premier League club, were prepared to go to the highest bidder – which was United. United said they would even take Emmanuel Adebayor off Spurs’ hands if that would sweeten the move.
Spurs put the bid to Bale and the Welsh international politely refused, in a phone call to Moyes, as he then signed a six-year contract to officially become the world’s most expensive player – although not as expensive as he would have been had he joined United.
It was a blow to Moyes and United’s new executive vice‑chairman, Ed Woodward, who had inherited their roles believing that United could sign Cristiano Ronaldo, might get Cesc Fabregas or Bale – and ended up with Marouane Fellaini.
United got their fingers burnt on Ronaldo – who, it appears, used their interest to negotiate a lucrative new contract at Real. The same might happen with Bale and it would not be beyond the realms of possibility that next summer talks take place over an improved deal.
United will continue to watch, continue to let it be known that should the 25-year-old want to go – or should Real want to cash in – they will be ready. They will make sure he does not go to another English club.
But they are also determined to play it cool. Perhaps play it cooler than Real and the Spanish media with the newspaper AS having asked 30,000 Madrid fans if they would accept the rumoured €150 million bid (£118 million) for Bale: 54 per cent said yes. Bale is Bale, he is popular and has done well but he is not Ronaldo and that is a lot of money.
But why, unless he is not wanted, would Bale consider leaving the best team in the world who are on a winning run of 22 straight victories (just two short of the world record, by the way) – with his representatives briefing that it is not even an option?
Bale is unassuming and low-maintenance and has worked hard to integrate himself into the Real dressing room, into the team and into life in Madrid – even if he still speaks little Spanish.
But he also has a young daughter, Alba Violet, who turned two in October.
Bale’s partner, Emma Rhys-Jones, moved out to Madrid with him but one theory, not without credence, is that the family may be keen to return to Britain when the child reaches school age in less than two years. So it could be next summer, or the following summer, if that theory holds.
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