The Agent of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has revealed that the former Spurs star was offered more money to join Manchester United before he sealed a world record €100 million move Real Madrid.
The Wales international has made a fine start to his career at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey in his first season for the Los Blancos.
The Red Devils have long been admirers of Bale, who was linked with a move to Old Trafford before he decided on a switch to Spurs from Southampton in 2007.
And his representative, Jonathan Barnett, claims United made a renewed bid to secure the 25-year-old’s services last year, but his heart and mind was set on signing for the Spanish giants.
Barnett told AS: “It was one of the greatest, if not the largest [transfers]. And to complete it was a great honour for me because I met Gareth when he was very young and I was able to help make dream come true.
“He always wanted to play for Madrid. He could have gone to United and other clubs, but he wanted Madrid.”
When asked if the Premier League giants had offered more money than their La Liga counterparts, the agent replied: “Not much more, but more.
“I know that at one time Barcelona were also interested in him, but he said he did not want to go there. There were two agents who called me.”