Madrid splash £130m for Bale

Former Tottenham manager David Pleat believes Gareth Bale is too young to join La Liga giants Real Madrid.

The Welshman has been strongly linked with a move to Carlo Ancelotti's side through the close-season, who want the 23-year-old to bolster their options in order to try and regain the Spanish title.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy have thus far maintained that they will not sell their prized asset, who scored 26 goals in all competitions for the club last season.

Despite all the concerns and Spurs’ refusal to sell the Wales striker, Real Madrid are reported to have stepped up their hunt with a £130million deal.

Reports in Spain suggest Madrid have a six-year £51m WAGE deal agreed in principle with Bale.

And that will come on top of the monster £80m transfer fee they will have to pay for the winger.

But Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas insisted he will fight to keep his prized asset — even though that £80m fee would match the world record Real paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

AVB said: “I want to repeat what I was telling you last season and at the start of the summer.

“He is a Tottenham player, one of the most fantastic players in the world and we are counting on him for the future.

Pleat also feels the winger would benefit from spending another season in the Premier League.

“I think he’s a little bit young to go abroad and I doubt he’d find it easy,” Pleat told BBC Sport.

“Many have failed when they have moved overseas. One or two have succeeded, but not many. Most have had a difficult time.

“I think he is young to go, but he might feel that with his partner and baby, it will be a new start for him. It might be better if he stayed, continued to work and maybe next summer leave if that is his wish.”

Pleat also backed Levy’s stance on Bale’s future and believes only a huge offer will tempt him to consider selling.

“Regardless of whether the player wants to leave, the club are in the driving seat and Tottenham have always been very firm on this,” the 68-year-old continued.

“If a club have strong and brave leadership, which they have at Tottenham, they have to resist any formal offer that comes in, which Tottenham are determined to do.

Bale’s desire to leave White Hart Lane with a world-record transfer has been made a family affair after his mum and dad were spotted going into a meeting with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Bale and his representatives met Levy yesterday to underline how much the player wants to leave.

But an onlooker was stunned to see the player’s parents also walk into the meeting. Our source said: “I couldn’t believe it when the Bales arrived at the training ground. God knows what they said to Mr Levy.”

Source: Sports Mail