Let me go, Bale pleads with Spurs

Tottenham  Hotspur superstar Gareth Bale is in turmoil after the club turned down a world record £82million bid for him from Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old missed his club's pre-season friendly in Hong Kong last Saturday — and cannot see himself wearing the white of Tottenham again.

Manager Andre Villas Boas has diplomatically put the Welshman's absence from this week's Barclays Asia Trophy tournament down to a muscle strain. But the reality is that the player is physically fit to play — but mentally shattered.

He has set his heart on a move to Madrid to play Champions League football alongside global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.

But the final decision on his dream move rests with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is digging his heels in and insisting Bale fulfils the remaining three years of his contract.

With Wales missing from next summer's World Cup, Bale is desperate to test himself in Europe's biggest competition and faces turning 25 in a year's time having played just one season at that level.

Bale, who scored 31 goals for club and country from midfield last season, is currently unable to contemplate new contract talks with Spurs, even though it could provide him with a get-out in a year's time.

The player is terrified that Levy — known as the toughest negotiator in the game —  will simply refuse to let him leave whatever the price.

Spurs will not confirm that an official written bid has been made but they are aware of the amount Real are willing to offer to secure Bale, which exceeds the world record £80m they paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009.

The problem Bale faces is his future is not entirely up to him. Tottenham's chairman is determined to turn his club into one of England's biggest and does not think selling his best player would look good.

With three years left on his contract, it puts Bale in an awkward position, one where he hopes common sense will prevail from Levy. Certainly with the money, he'd be able to sign four top-class players.

Villas-Boas, a close ally until now, refused to answer questions about Bale's future after yesterday's game.

But, quizzed repeatedly, he fell back on the same phrase.

“I won't comment on anything. I am so sorry,” he said. “I can't speak about speculation.”

Source: Sports Mail