Real Madrid heat up Bale chase

Mid-fielder under scrutiny as Spurs back in training.

LONDON: Gareth Bale reported for training with Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, amid mounting rumours about a lucrative move to Real Madrid in a possible world record transfer deal.

The British and Spanish media have been in overdrive, with Bale reportedly being given a price tag upwards of the record £80 million Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

The Guardian said Real had indicated they were willing to pay a world record £100 million for Bale while Spanish sports daily Marca has claimed that Spurs have demanded a fee of £125 million for the player.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has also been reported as having set up a meeting with Real president Florentino Perez in Miami next week, where the Spanish club are due to play in a pre-season tournament, to broker a deal.

The Daily Mirror claimed Levy was holding out for the best price for Bale and would be prepared to bring back Luka Modric, who left White Hart Lane for the Bernabeu last year in a similarly drawn-out transfer saga.

France legend and former Real player Zinedine Zidane, currently an ambassador for the Spanish capital club, was reported as saying, “If he [Bale] has expressed a desire to join Madrid, then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us.

“The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime — and it’s understandable that Gareth doesn’t want to miss out on it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2013.

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