Andre Villas-Boas has once again insisted that Gareth Bale is not for sale despite reports in Spain claiming the player has already agreed a deal to join Real Madrid.
Marca suggests that the Tottenham player has said yes to a £115,000-a-week six-year deal and also claimed Bale has told Spurs he wanted to leave.
However, that figure is less than the £130,000 a week which Spurs have offered the 24-year-old in a new contract.
Furthermore, the story by Marca, which is seen as Real’s mouthpiece, contradicts an article it wrote three weeks ago. That story said the Spanish club’s president Florentino Perez had given up on signing Bale this summer because Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to do a deal, adding that he would try again next summer.
Today’s article admits any transfer “could be extremely difficult” and said Bale would cost at least £70million and any deal could include Fabio Coentrao in exchange.
In recent weeks, Bale has praised Villas-Boas and said how much he is looking forward to working with the Spurs boss this term.
Bale said: “We have a great relationship. Last season we had a great campaign and obviously we came up short but we had a great working relationship on and off the field. We chatted quite a lot about tactics and stuff like that. He definitely got the best out of me last season and hopefully can again.”
Manchester United have also been showing an interest in Bale but Spurs boss Villas-Boas remains adamant that the player is going nowhere.
Speaking in Hong Kong, where the club are playing in the Barclays Asia Trophy, Villas-Boas said: “I want to become repetitive from what I was telling you last season and from the beginning of pre-season. The player is one we are willing to continue to have as a Tottenham player.
“He is one of the most fantastic players in the world at the moment. We are counting on him for the future.”
