The icon in question once again returned to Tottenham for a brief spell.
Gareth Bale could have played for Manchester United during his prime in the Premier League, but a private agreement with Daniel Levy stopped that from happening. Manchester United offered more money than Real Madrid for Bale’s transfer, but he did not move to United.
Bale is a player who has inspired many at Tottenham, and his achievements at Real Madrid make supporters proud. However, things could have been different…
Bale speaks on how close he came to signing for United
During his time at Tottenham, Bale was one of the most in-demand players in Europe. His outstanding performance from 2012 to 2014, where he scored 26 goals and won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, caught the attention of many.
On the Stick to Football podcast, Bale shared that he had talks with Manchester United and spoke to then-manager David Moyes, who was eager to bring him to Old Trafford after Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Bale noted that United made a serious attempt to secure him and even made a higher bid than Madrid. However, he didn’t genuinely consider moving to United.
Bale explained that he had a gentleman’s agreement with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, which stopped him from joining a domestic rival.
This agreement allowed him to leave if Tottenham missed out on the Champions League, but only to a team outside of the Premier League.
He said: “I spoke with David Moyes. Not [Ed Woodward], maybe my agent did. My heart was set on Madrid. I had something in place with Daniel Levy, maybe more of a gentleman’s agreement, because he didn’t want to sell me to a rival.”
Bale added that if a team from Spain, Italy, or elsewhere approached him after they failed to qualify for the Champions League, he could leave. “We had that gentleman’s agreement, even though he made it very tough,” he mentioned.
Bale had a successful time at Madrid
In the summer of 2013, Tottenham finished fifth and missed the Champions League, which allowed Bale to complete a world-record transfer to Real Madrid for £86 million. His time in Spain turned out to be very successful.
At Madrid, he won several trophies, including five Champions League titles. During this period, he created memorable moments that many fans cherish. Although United was close to signing him, Bale’s respect for his agreement with Levy reflects his character off the field.