REAL MADRID’S GARETH Bale denied allegations on Tuesday that he is considering a return to the Premier League with Manchester United.
Bale only moved to Real from Tottenham in September 2013 but, midway through his second La Liga campaign, the British media is widely convinced the Welsh winger is a major target of United manager Louis van Gaal.
But speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Bale refuted those rumours, indicating the opportunity to regularly win silverware makes him keen to see out his contract that runs until June 2019.
“For me, no,” Bale said.
“I did an interview recently and I said I’m happy here, I’ve got several years left on my contract and I’m having a good time.
“We’re winning trophies and I want to stay here.”
Bale has won the UEFA Champions League, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup since signing Real – reportedly for a world-record fee of €94million.
That fee, plus claims in the Spanish media that Bale is a “ball-hog”, has been the focus of a perceived rift between the 25-year-old and team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale was criticised for shooting himself instead of passing to Ronaldo during Real’s 2-1 loss at Valencia on January 4 and their 3-0 triumph over Espanyol six days later but the Welshman was unmoved.
“People [in the media] have their own opinions and that’s how they make their living,” he said.
“It’s their work, they get paid to do it.
“I think that when I’m playing I set goals up and I score them too. I play football my way.”
Bale added he has not discussed his on-field decision making with Ronaldo:
“No, we didn’t speak about it afterwards. It happens all the time in football.
“It’s something that just gets left on the pitch. Nobody talks about it afterwards.”
The former Tottenham flyer has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, while setting up another seven, with all but one finished off by Ronaldo.
Bale also denied claims he is struggling with his back or a hernia: “No, I don’t have anything. It’s not true.”
Remember the days with no sponsor on the jersey? “Mes que un club”
This FFP is starting to be a bad idea
Every club will avail of sponsorship like this when it’s available!! Think of how many Table Quizzes FC Barcelona would have to hold to pay Messi’s wages otherwise!!
It’s the way football has gone. FFP is forcing forcing clubs to sell naming rights etc to stay competitive. Real Madrid are selling also, so if clubs like Barcelona and Madrid have to do this then every European club will do the same shortly.
I fully expect to see clubs getting sponsers for the clubs shorts, socks, back of shirts, shirt sleeves etc. Naming rights on traning grounds ,stadiums ,stands etc.
Well before they would just operate at enormous financial losses with no impunity.
The problem is the culture of extreme excess in football.
FFP has cut the way they used to collect enormous amounts of money, and j ow they’re trying this
This is just horrible. The people in power at the club (the actual Barca people, not just the Middle-Eastern moneybags) must surely see the wrongs of this? It looks like you can put a price on history and tradition.
“Qatar Airways and Barcelona have the same values.
The moment of truth…. or total bullshlt……
No more than a club.