Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho has remained tight-lipped on his club’s efforts to sign Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale as the transfer edges closer to completion.
Mourinho faced the press this afternoon to preview Spurs’ Europa League qualifying clash with Lokomotiv Plovdiv tomorrow.
The Portuguese manager fielded questions on Bale, who is closing in on a return to White Hart Lane.
“I’m not going to comment on Gareth Bale – a Real Madrid player,” Mourinho said.
“I tried to sign him for Real Madrid which was not possible during my time there.
“But the president followed my instinct and followed my knowledge and the season I left he brought Gareth to the club.”
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However, Zinedine Zidane has not fancied the attacker and has ostracised him during both of his spells in charge.
Meanwhile Bale has recently admitted he would be open to returning to the Premier League.
“If those options arise it is something I’d look at for sure,” he said.
“We’ll see what happens, we have plenty of time in this transfer window and a couple of others as well. Time will tell but mainly I think the reason is that the decision is in Real Madrid’s hands.
“I tried to leave last year but they blocked everything at the last second. It was a project I was excited for but it didn’t materialise.
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“There have been other instances where we have tried to go but the club won’t allow it or they’ve done something. It’s down to the club.
“I want to play football, I am still motivated to play football, so I guess it’s on the club. They are in control of everything. I have a contract, all I can do is carry on what I am doing and hopefully something comes up.
“I am only 31 still but I feel I am in great shape still and feel like I have a lot to give. We will see what happens. It’s in the club’s hands but they make things very difficult to be honest.”
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