Gareth Bale has confirmed that Manchester United submitted a higher transfer fee than Real Madrid for his services in 2013, before he eventually joined the Spanish giants for a then-world record £85 million. The Welsh winger, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, revealed that both clubs were keen to secure his signature after he scored 26 goals in 44 games for Tottenham in the 2012/13 season.
Bale stated that he spoke with then-United manager David Moyes, but his heart was set on a move to Real Madrid. He also mentioned a gentleman's agreement with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, which allowed him to leave for a foreign club, particularly after Spurs failed to qualify for the Champions League. Levy, however, made the transfer difficult, Bale added.
The 36-year-old former attacker stressed that United offered more money to Tottenham than Madrid did, but he never got to the stage of discussing personal terms with the Premier League club. Despite the higher bid, Bale said he was never going to sign for United, as his desire was to join Real Madrid.
David Moyes, who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, had previously revealed that United targeted Bale, along with Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo, in that summer transfer window. Ultimately, only Marouane Fellaini arrived from Everton for £27.5 million.
Bale's move to Real Madrid proved highly successful, as he won five Champions League titles and scored crucial goals, including a memorable overhead kick in the 2018 final against Liverpool.
