Mourinho plays down talk of Bale bid

Jose Mourinho has indicated Real Madrid will not look to sign Tottenham winger Gareth Bale this summer – and backed his manager Harry Redknapp to become the next England boss.

Jose Mourinho has indicated Real Madrid will not look to sign Tottenham winger Gareth Bale this summer – and backed his manager Harry Redknapp to become the next England boss.

Mourinho and Redknapp will face each other in tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.

At the heart of Spurs’ quest for a place in the last four will be Bale, who is thought to be winning his race for fitness after a recent hamstring injury.

The Welshman signed a lucrative new contract last month but today admitted that he would one day be willing to leave White Hart Lane if a big offer came his way.

Despite signing a new deal, a bidding war could commence for the 21-year-old this summer, with Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter Milan all thought to be keen on securing the his services.

But Mourinho, who spotted Bale’s talent while he was in charge at Chelsea, denied that Real would be out to sign the player this summer.

“I was one of the first to say he will be an amazing player. I was saying that when he was not known in European football, just in England, so I know the great player he is,” the Portuguese said.

“He is still young and there is a big space for him to improve so he will be a really top, top, top player. I have no doubt about that.

“Tottenham is not a good club to sell though. It is a club that buys.

“I think for the amount of money involved, it is not easy to buy and we have players for that position.

“We have Cristiano (Ronaldo) who plays in the same position he plays, and Marcelo at left-back.

“When you want to spend big money you do it in areas where you have problems, but I have no doubt he (Bale) is a very good boy.”

Redknapp has earned many plaudits this season for the attacking style he has employed at Tottenham and the way it has helped his team through the competition, seeing off Inter Milan and AC Milan along the way.

Redknapp is favourite to take over from Fabio Capello when he steps down as Three Lions boss next summer, and Mourinho thinks the former Portsmouth manager would do a great job in succeeding the Italian.

“He is a good manager for any team, including a national team,” said Mourinho, who is looking to secure his third Champions League trophy.

“I think there is no limits for him. Give him a team, a national team and he is ready for anything.”

Tottenham were embroiled in a relegation battle when Redknapp took over two and a half years ago, but his impressive stewardship has earned him the utmost admiration from his opposite number for tomorrow's showdown.

“He is my friend, and friends are always nice to each other,” Mourinho added.

“I say nice things about him and he does me. That’s life.

“When I was in England he was not managing teams with possibility of reaching these kind of ambitions. Finally after the good work he was doing, he went to Tottenham, who had the resources to build a good team. I’m very, very happy (for him). I hope, and I say this from my heart, that if I don’t reach the final, then I hope he does it.”

more courts articles

DUP calls for measures to prevent Northern Ireland from becoming 'magnet' for asylum seekers DUP calls for measures to prevent Northern Ireland from becoming 'magnet' for asylum seekers
UK's Illegal Migration Act should be disapplied in Northern Ireland, judge rules UK's Illegal Migration Act should be disapplied in Northern Ireland, judge rules
Former prisoner given indefinite hospital order for killing Irishman in London Former prisoner given indefinite hospital order for killing Irishman in London

More in this section

FAI headquarters FAI broker deal to lift block on DDSL's participation in Kennedy and Gaynor Cups
Roy Keane’s ghost looms over new Man United treble documentary Roy Keane’s ghost looms over new Man United treble documentary
Norwich City v Leeds United - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg Leeds crush Norwich to move to within one game of a Premier League return
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited