MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 06: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Real ... [+]
Manchester United have no interest in signing Gareth Bale from Real Madrid this summer.
Despite a flurry of reports suggesting United would seek to bring the Welshman back to the Premier League in this transfer window, it is my understanding he is not under consideration at Old Trafford.
The United hierarchy believe Bale does not fit the profile of the young and hungry player they are looking to add to their squad this summer.
Bale turns 30 next month and with his history of injury problems United believe he now represents too much of a risk.
Though United have maintained an active interest in Bale over most of the last six years and had hoped to sign him on several occasions, they have now decided that time has passed and moved on to other targets.
, SPAIN - APRIL 28: (L-R) Gareth Bale of Real Madrid, Abdoulaye Ba of Rayo Vallecano during the La ... [+]
In the summer of 2013 United were prepared to break the world record transfer fee to sign Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.
In the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United wanted to deliver new incoming manager David Moyes with a marquee signing.
But the Welshman was determined to sign for Real Madrid, and so even though United made a higher offer, on the player’s insistence Tottenham were directed to accept the Spanish club’s bid of £85 million.
“I wanted [Bale] to be my first signing at Manchester United,” Moyes recently revealed. “We came close, spoke to him, but he had his heart set on Real Madrid and we couldn’t talk him out of it."
“It was a real disappointment because I saw him as a Manchester United-type player…I just think all round he’s a terrific athlete and a brilliant footballer so I think that he would have fitted what we wanted but I couldn’t talk him out of [joining Madrid].”
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 19: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid looks on from the substitute bench before the La ... [+]
Despite missing out United maintained a real interest in Bale, and were prepared to sign him in several transfer windows, but the player never showed any interest in coming to Old Trafford, and always preferred to stay and fight for his place in Madrid.
This summer Real Madrid have undertaken a massive overhaul of their squad, and already signed five new players, including Eden Hazard, for a total of around £280 million.
Bale has reluctantly come to accept he is no longer wanted at the Bernabeu, with Madrid desperate to sell him to recoup a transfer fee and relieve themselves of his large contract, which is estimated to be worth around £350,000 a week after tax.
Madrid had hoped to possibly use Bale in their attempt to lure Paul Pogba away from Old Trafford, but United have no interest in this deal.
