Jose Mourinho has admitted he does want to sign Gareth Bale, but will wait until after he sees Real Madrid’s Super Cup team sheet to decide on whether he should move for the Welshman this summer.
Manchester United have been credited with a transfer interest in the winger who is under contract with Real until 2022.
Bale would be a massive coup for United who are still rebuilding their squad and the Red Devils will come face to face with Real on Tuesday night.
Mourinho made no attempt to hide his interest in Bale, but his transfer plans seem to rest on whether the 28-year-old starts for his side in the Super Cup final.
‘Well if he’s playing tomorrow, no I wouldn’t think of that, it would be because he’s in the coach’s plans and the club’s plans, because he also has that motivation to continue at Real Madrid,’ he said.
‘So I haven’t even thought about the possibility.
‘If he is not in the club’s plans, that with the arrival of another player would mean he was on his way out, I will try to be waiting for him on the other side and fight with other coaches that would want him on their team.
‘But if he plays tomorrow, that is the best confirmation that he is still wanted by the team.’
Bale is the second best paid player on the planet, behind Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, but struggled with his fitness last season.
It meant the attacker missed much of the crucial points in Real’s campaign and was made to watch from the bench for their Champions League final triumph.
Bale is determined to regain full fitness, but Mourinho is hopeful he could convince the Wales international to move back to the Premier League.
Mourinho has already made several big signings this summer with the arrival of Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic.
However, Real have already moved to assure Bale of his position at the club by calling off their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe.
COMMENTS