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Set Bale free! Zidane tells Spurs not to deny Welshman from chasing his dream... and Levy could line up Suarez to fill the void
By MATT BARLOW, SIMON JONES and JOHN EDWARDS
PUBLISHED: 17:11 EST, 30 July 2013 | UPDATED: 17:13 EST, 30 July 2013 6
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Gareth Bale will report back to training on Wednesday as Real Madrid keep up their seduction, with Zinedine Zidane claiming the player should be allowed to leave Tottenham and follow his dreams.
In a surprising development, it has emerged Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will consider joining the race for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez should Real meet their valuation of Bale.
The Spanish giants unleashed sporting director Zidane on Tuesday, who said Bale could become the best player in the world. The France legend added: ‘It is not unusual when a player knows that Real Madrid are interested that they get excited. There is nothing more prestigious for a player than to wear the white of Real Madrid.
VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Bale asking to leave Spurs
‘If he has expressed a desire to join Madrid then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime and it is understandable that Gareth doesn’t want to miss out.
‘Last season Gareth was on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi. Those are the sort of players who win you Champions Leagues and League titles.
‘Gareth is already one of the finest players in Europe and has everything needed to become the best player in the world. It is a bit of a cliche but it is true you become a better player playing with better players.’
TOP FIVE TRANSFER FEES
1 Cristiano Ronaldo, £80million from Manchester United to Real Madrid (2009)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, £56.5m from Inter Milan to Barcelona (2009)
3 Kaka, £56m AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009)
4 Edinson Cavani, £55m from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain (2013)
5 Radamel Falcao, £53m from Atletico Madrid to Monaco (2013)
No formal bid has been received but Tottenham are in no doubt that Real are ready to pay £85million.
Chairman Levy remains reluctant to accept the offer and is driving for closer to £100m. Should he relent, he will be determined to show that Spurs remain ambitious in the transfer market. Suarez is the subject of a £40,000,001 bid from Tottenham’s fierce rivals Arsenal, and Liverpool have steadfastly refused to sell, with their valuation being closer to £55m.
The fact Suarez is considering a move to another English club will encourage Tottenham but they know their biggest problem in attracting the Uruguayan is their lack of Champions League football.
Levy wanted to sign Suarez from Ajax when Harry Redknapp was manager and is impressed with how the 26-year-old has adapted to the Premier League quickly. Beating their north London neighbours to his signature would certainly help soften the blow of losing Bale.
Having mentally prepared himself for another season at Spurs and helped launch the new kit last month, the Wales international has decided that this offer is too good to refuse. Bale has made it clear he wants to make the move but is reluctant to agitate for it as Luka Modric did last year.
Modric went AWOL to force through his transfer from Spurs to Real. It was not a popular tactic but it did help him achieve the transfer he wanted.
IS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SLIPPING?
If Bale goes, the Premier League loses one of its star names, while these five have swerved England this summer...
Edinson Cavani £55m
Chose Napoli despite strong interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.
Radamel Falcao £53m
Opted for Monaco with Chelsea keen admirers, snubbing the Premier League for the French top flight.
Gonzalo Higuain £32m
Was a key target for Arsene Wenger and was also linked to Liverpool in a swap deal for Luis Suarez but decided to join Napoli instead.
Thiago Alcantara £22m
Wanted by David Moyes to strengthen central midfield, a weak area, at Manchester United but followed former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich.
Neymar £50m
The most sought-after player in the world went to Barcelona without giving the Premier League a second glance.
Sam Cunningham
And in what could be a blow for Manchester United manager David Moyes, it has emerged that the Spanish giants want the Croatia midfielder to act as a minder for his old team-mate Bale.
Modric figures prominently on Moyes’s wanted list and is likely to attract a bid from the United manager, should he be forced to abandon his pursuit of Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.
It would take something approaching the £33m Real paid for Modric to prise him away, but a bigger stumbling block for United could be their reluctance to sell a player they feel could help Bale settle into new surroundings at the Bernabeu.
Mindful of the intense media scrutiny he would have to contend with in foreign surroundings, they feel the presence of a familiar, friendly face would increase the chances of a successful transition.
Zidane was speaking from the United States, where Real are involved in a pre-season tournament also featuring Chelsea and Everton. They will complete the tournament next week in Miami, where Spurs chairman Levy happens to own a home.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are still waiting to hear whether their unusual offer will trigger Suarez’s sale, while the shadow of Real stepping in for the Uruguayan also remains a possibility.
Real Madrid arrive in Los Angeles to start their USA tour
So far, Suarez has made no attempt to get the Premier League to act as arbiters over the clause in his contract. His advisers believe the £40m clause should allow the striker to move from Anfield but Liverpool maintain the figure simply means they have to inform him that a bid has been made.
Liverpool have no desire to sell a player who scored 30 goals last season and who has three years remaining on his contract.
A club source said: ‘We’ve all examined the clause in detail. All it obliges is good faith negotiations about Luis’s future. There is absolutely no obligation to sell and that is very clear.’
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By MATT BARLOW, SIMON JONES and JOHN EDWARDS
PUBLISHED: 17:11 EST, 30 July 2013 | UPDATED: 17:13 EST, 30 July 2013 6
View
comments
Gareth Bale will report back to training on Wednesday as Real Madrid keep up their seduction, with Zinedine Zidane claiming the player should be allowed to leave Tottenham and follow his dreams.
In a surprising development, it has emerged Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will consider joining the race for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez should Real meet their valuation of Bale.
The Spanish giants unleashed sporting director Zidane on Tuesday, who said Bale could become the best player in the world. The France legend added: ‘It is not unusual when a player knows that Real Madrid are interested that they get excited. There is nothing more prestigious for a player than to wear the white of Real Madrid.
VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Bale asking to leave Spurs
Touch down: Gareth Bale arrives at Heathrow Airport from Hong Kong in the early hours
Nothing to smile about: Bale, who may be subject of a world record £85m bid from Real Madrid, clearly has a lot on his mind on his return to London
‘If he has expressed a desire to join Madrid then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime and it is understandable that Gareth doesn’t want to miss out.
‘Last season Gareth was on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi. Those are the sort of players who win you Champions Leagues and League titles.
‘Gareth is already one of the finest players in Europe and has everything needed to become the best player in the world. It is a bit of a cliche but it is true you become a better player playing with better players.’
On his way? Gareth bale is set for talks with Spurs over a world record £85million move to Real Madrid
Crunch talks: Bale (left) will discuss his future with agent Jonathan Barnett (right) and Daniel Levy (far right) and the Tottenham chairman is likely to bow to the player's requests if the sky-high price is met by Real Madrid
New boss? New Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants Bale as his first marquee signing at the Bernabeu
TOP FIVE TRANSFER FEES
1 Cristiano Ronaldo, £80million from Manchester United to Real Madrid (2009)
2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, £56.5m from Inter Milan to Barcelona (2009)
3 Kaka, £56m AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009)
4 Edinson Cavani, £55m from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain (2013)
5 Radamel Falcao, £53m from Atletico Madrid to Monaco (2013)
No formal bid has been received but Tottenham are in no doubt that Real are ready to pay £85million.
Chairman Levy remains reluctant to accept the offer and is driving for closer to £100m. Should he relent, he will be determined to show that Spurs remain ambitious in the transfer market. Suarez is the subject of a £40,000,001 bid from Tottenham’s fierce rivals Arsenal, and Liverpool have steadfastly refused to sell, with their valuation being closer to £55m.
The fact Suarez is considering a move to another English club will encourage Tottenham but they know their biggest problem in attracting the Uruguayan is their lack of Champions League football.
Join us: Zinedine Zidane (right), with Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, would love to see Bale in a Madrid shirt
Unsettled: Tottenham could join the race for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez should Bale leave
Levy wanted to sign Suarez from Ajax when Harry Redknapp was manager and is impressed with how the 26-year-old has adapted to the Premier League quickly. Beating their north London neighbours to his signature would certainly help soften the blow of losing Bale.
Having mentally prepared himself for another season at Spurs and helped launch the new kit last month, the Wales international has decided that this offer is too good to refuse. Bale has made it clear he wants to make the move but is reluctant to agitate for it as Luka Modric did last year.
Modric went AWOL to force through his transfer from Spurs to Real. It was not a popular tactic but it did help him achieve the transfer he wanted.
Touchline: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to keep hold of his key man
Dynamic duo: Bale thrived under Villas-Boas' management at White Hart Lane last season
IS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SLIPPING?
If Bale goes, the Premier League loses one of its star names, while these five have swerved England this summer...
Edinson Cavani £55m
Chose Napoli despite strong interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.
Radamel Falcao £53m
Opted for Monaco with Chelsea keen admirers, snubbing the Premier League for the French top flight.
Gonzalo Higuain £32m
Was a key target for Arsene Wenger and was also linked to Liverpool in a swap deal for Luis Suarez but decided to join Napoli instead.
Thiago Alcantara £22m
Wanted by David Moyes to strengthen central midfield, a weak area, at Manchester United but followed former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich.
Neymar £50m
The most sought-after player in the world went to Barcelona without giving the Premier League a second glance.
Sam Cunningham
And in what could be a blow for Manchester United manager David Moyes, it has emerged that the Spanish giants want the Croatia midfielder to act as a minder for his old team-mate Bale.
Modric figures prominently on Moyes’s wanted list and is likely to attract a bid from the United manager, should he be forced to abandon his pursuit of Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas.
It would take something approaching the £33m Real paid for Modric to prise him away, but a bigger stumbling block for United could be their reluctance to sell a player they feel could help Bale settle into new surroundings at the Bernabeu.
Mindful of the intense media scrutiny he would have to contend with in foreign surroundings, they feel the presence of a familiar, friendly face would increase the chances of a successful transition.
Zidane was speaking from the United States, where Real are involved in a pre-season tournament also featuring Chelsea and Everton. They will complete the tournament next week in Miami, where Spurs chairman Levy happens to own a home.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are still waiting to hear whether their unusual offer will trigger Suarez’s sale, while the shadow of Real stepping in for the Uruguayan also remains a possibility.
World record: Any deal for Bale would eclipse the £80m fee Real paid for star man Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009
Real Madrid arrive in Los Angeles to start their USA tour
So far, Suarez has made no attempt to get the Premier League to act as arbiters over the clause in his contract. His advisers believe the £40m clause should allow the striker to move from Anfield but Liverpool maintain the figure simply means they have to inform him that a bid has been made.
Liverpool have no desire to sell a player who scored 30 goals last season and who has three years remaining on his contract.
A club source said: ‘We’ve all examined the clause in detail. All it obliges is good faith negotiations about Luis’s future. There is absolutely no obligation to sell and that is very clear.’
Holding his hands up: Bale will only consider moving to Real Madrid at this stage, not Manchester United
On his way: The Spanish media are clearly excited by the potential arrival of the Welsh winger, with sports paper AS even crediting 'Daily Mail' reports on their front page
Development: Southampton are set to recieve some of Bale's transfer fee for bringing him through
Poster boy: Bale is a valuable marketing tool for Spurs, with this poster in Times Square, New York
More...
- Tottenham line up £7m defender Chiriches as Villas-Boas prepares for Vertonghen injury absence
- Zidane urges Bale to grab 'once-in-a-lifetime chance' but Spurs forward refuses to demand £85m move to Madrid
- Valencia want Torres to replace Spurs-bound Soldado... but they won't go higher than £25m for Chelsea misfit
- Is Bale worth £85m? Real Madrid think so but what about Sportsmail's team of experts
- All the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion
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