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Gareth Bale: Spurs forward 'wants to speak to Real Madrid'

By Ben SmithBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments1108

Gareth Bale

Tottenham's Gareth Bale has indicated that he wants to speak to Real Madrid, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is adamant the Welshman will not be sold.

Real have yet to submit a written offer, while Spurs are determined to keep the 24-year-old, even if they receive a world record bid of £85m.

Tottenham are hopeful of persuading Bale to fulfil one year of the three remaining on his current contract.

Bale joined Spurs from Southampton for £10m in 2007.

Real are expected to formalise their interest in the coming week and test Tottenham's resolve to hang to a player who scored 26 goals in all competitions last season.

Tottenham arrived back in London on Sunday from their final pre-season matches in Hong Kong. Bale did not play in either of the club's matches in the Asia Trophy because of a muscle problem.

In May, Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett told a Spanish television show that his client would be honoured to hear from Madrid president Florentino Perez.

With Real stepping up their interest, the Bale camp this weekend told leading figures at Spurs of their client's wish to be able to discuss the possibility of a move to Spain.

On Friday, Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas refused to answer questions on Bale's situation, except to say contract talks were continuing with the man who won both the Professional Footballers' Association's player of the year and young player of the year awards last season.

It remains to be seen whether Bale plays in Tottenham's friendly against Monaco this weekend, but in Spain there are already suggestions that new Real manager Carlo Ancelotti is preparing for the arrival of the Welshman.

On Saturday, Ancelotti moved Cristiano Ronaldo away from the left flank and into a more central role during the pre-season friendly win over Paris St-Germain in Sweden, prompting speculation that the Italian is attempting to find a new system to accommodate both Bale and Ronaldo.

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1108 comments

  • Comment posted by U10147364, at 12:36 29 Jul 2013

    Bale's good, but he's not £85m good.

    Reckon Spurs will fold if RM come and wave that much money in front of them, and I wouldn't blame them.

  • Comment posted by zangief, at 12:44 29 Jul 2013

    Of course he wants to talk with them. Real Madrid are much bigger than Spurs.

  • Comment posted by Milo, at 13:07 29 Jul 2013

    From there it was picked up by the major UK gossip papers, who quoted Marca as the source. It is now picking up even more steam as Marca are again reporting that Bale is angry at Levy and wants to leave, quoting the Sun as their source.

    So what we have is Marca quoting the Sun who are quoting Marca.

    This is silly season alright.

  • Comment posted by MyPLClubIsTheBest, at 13:58 29 Jul 2013

    I too want to speak to Real Madrid.

  • Comment posted by kaiser doug, at 13:07 29 Jul 2013

    Why are people hating on Spurs/Bale because of the price tag? If Madrid are willing to pay that much then it's their problem.

    Or are people suggesting that Spurs should say: "Hey, £35m is more than enough, guys...keep the rest".

    Or maybe Bale should say: "Look, I am overrated...are you sure you want to offer £80m+ for me?"

    If RM want to pay silly money, let them!

  • Comment posted by AstonVillan, at 13:00 29 Jul 2013

    How about an interesting article about Paul Lambert's youth revolution at Villa? Or maybe Paulo Di Canio's overhaul of the Sunderland squad? Or perhaps Norwich's astute dealings in the transfer market?

    Oh no, sorry, I forgot that we hadn't had our daily dose of 'news' about Suarez, Fabregas or Bale...

  • Comment posted by el diablo, at 12:36 29 Jul 2013

    anyone really believe daniel Levy won't sell Bale for £85m?

    C'mon!

  • Comment posted by U15373334, at 15:42 29 Jul 2013

    Just worth noting that Real Madrid have been found to be financially supported by the Spanish state. The same Spanish state that is being bailed out (no pun intended) partially by you and me.

    As usual the elite UEFA & FIFA have closed ranks and said nothing.

  • Comment posted by SummersIron, at 14:14 29 Jul 2013

    Mourinho (with Ibra) and Ferguson (with United) have shown how selling your star player need not be a disaster. Inter immediately won the CL. United won 2 out of 4 Premierships (and lost one with 89 points) and reached a CL final. Even Arsenal have somehow stayed pretty much in the same place after losing a whole host of great players.
    With wise reinvestment, Spurs can stand the loss of Bale.

  • Comment posted by MUFC, at 15:43 29 Jul 2013

    funny how people say real madrid are one of the most respectful clubs in the world when actually they are the most disgraceful club there is. all they do is unsettle players, pay ridiculous money for them and then put many of their stars on the bench and destroy their careers. i would say there even worse than man city and chelsea

  • Comment posted by CFC, at 12:59 29 Jul 2013

    If spurs sell him for £85m they will be better off.

    They could spend that money on so many world class young players that would pay off in the future and give them a chance of making a proper title challenge a few years down the road.

    Also I think that Bales price would only fall next year so its best to cash out early.

  • Comment posted by U4079758, at 12:36 29 Jul 2013

    He is going, it's just Levy negotiating now

  • Comment posted by DaveSmooth, at 13:05 29 Jul 2013

    I find it astoninshing how Ben Smith (and Phil McNullty) appear to have such a direct line to what's going on with Bale, Suarez, Rooney, Fabragas and all the clubs involved, yet aren't required by the BBC to back any of it up with quotes...

    When the window closes, and NONE of these players have moved, can the BBC consider replacing these 'journalists',...please?

  • Comment posted by goformarcus, at 14:07 29 Jul 2013

    Does it really take quotes for people to believe that Bale wants to move to Madrid?

  • Comment posted by U15465165, at 19:19 29 Jul 2013

    Hey, BBC, I would like to make a suggestion. Stop writing articles on the most tedious sagas in sporting history involving Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale, and opening up comment sections on each of those. If you're going to do that then I suggest you should open a comment section on Christian Benitez's death for fans to leave their condolences. Sort it out.

  • Comment posted by Spurtle, at 13:46 29 Jul 2013

    Where Spurs currently are I can understand Levy's stance in not wanting to sell the best player. For as long as Spurs have been on the brink of going to the next level they've been selling their best players: Carrick, Berbatov, Keane, Modric, and not really achieving that next level. History is telling Levy to keep his best player this time and keep building around him in order to go forward.

  • Comment posted by metalzimmerman, at 21:28 29 Jul 2013

    Sad news about Christian Benitez. R.I.P. I`m very dissappointed with the B.B.C in the fact you can`t comment, except on this Bale storyline.

  • Comment posted by bob, at 16:35 30 Jul 2013

    Er..............where in this article does it confirm Bale 'wants to speak to Real Madrid' and where is the source? I expect this from the gutter press, but the BBC should grow up. There is an apparent need for every media outlet to have an article on Bale these last few days. If you don't have one (and there isn't actually anything new) then just make it up, why don't you.

  • Comment posted by Stannis Baratheon, at 23:33 29 Jul 2013

    Rest in Peace Christian Benitez

  • Comment posted by frantic, at 19:19 29 Jul 2013

    had the BBC down as Better than this, there has been absolutely nothing to substantiate this story, nothing from either side and or the player or the agent ,the best that you've come up with is a quote from march, yet you persist in renewing daily headlines. As i said I thought the BBC was better than this.

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