Football legend Gareth Bale has opened up about how close he was to signing for Manchester United. – He has revealed details of the secret deal that prevented him from signing for Manchester United.
Bale was proposed by United as a youth player when he made waves at Southampton, but eventually ended up at Spurs, where he developed from a left-back to a ruthless striker who became a world star.
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After an incredible 26-goal season, winning PFA Player of the Year, it was time for Bale to move on to his next challenge, and it came in the form of a then-world-record £86m transfer to Real Madrid.
However, United were heavily linked with the Welshman, and it was reported that David Moyes wanted to make him a star signing to usher in a new era at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
And in an interview on the podcast “Stick to Football”, Bale revealed that he actually had talks with United, specifically with Moyes.
He also admitted that United’s offer was higher than what Real Madrid paid to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking to Gary Neville, Bale said: “United and Madrid were the two teams. I actually spoke to United, yes. They actually bid more than Madrid,” Bale admitted in conversation with former United captain Gary Neville.
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When asked if he would ever sign for United, Bale quickly replied, “No.”
He then explained that he had decided to join Real, the Champions League’s 15-time winner, and that this arrangement was in line with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who refused to sell him to a rival in the Premier League.
However, under the terms of a “gentleman’s agreement”, a stay abroad was approved after Spurs finished fifth in the Premier League and failed to qualify for the Champions League.
“I spoke to David Moyes. Not [Ed Woodward], maybe my agent did,” Bale revealed.
“I had decided on Madrid. I had an arrangement with Daniel Levy, maybe more of a gentleman’s agreement, because he wouldn’t sell me to a rival.
So if a team came from Spain, Italy or wherever, I could potentially go, because if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which we didn’t, I could go there. We had that gentleman’s agreement, even though he made it very difficult.”
Manchester United’s disappointing 2013 transfer window
United spent the first post-Ferguson transfer window chasing a whole host of world-class players, with Cesc Fàbregas and Toni Kroos being top priorities alongside Bale, but no transfers materialised.
Attempts were also made to sign Ander Herrera and Fábio Coentrão, but a late loan offer collapsed at the last minute on the last day of the transfer window.
In the end, United’s only reinforcement was the signing of Marouane Fellaini from Everton for £27 million on the very last day of the window.
Years later, Moyes admitted that United had a “very thin” and “terrible” transfer window.
In January, he signed Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37 million, which turned out to be Moyes’ last signing at Old Trafford, as he was sacked just months later.
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