Gareth Bale’s agent ends all talk of Manchester United transfer

Gareth Bale’s agent says his client is on a par with Neymar and has put to bed all talk of him leaving Real Madrid.

Last week Diario Gol claimed Bale would be sold in the summer should anyone be willing to meet Real Madrid’s €90million price tag.

The report suggested Real president Florentino Perez was ready to offload the 28-year-old, who is under contract at the Bernabeu until 2022.

Wales international Bale, who was a sub in the win over Sociedad on Saturday, has struggled with injuries over the last few years, starting only 17 La Liga games last term and just nine this season

Manchester United have been continually linked with a move for the former Tottenham man, although last week’s rumblings claimed Jose Mourinho was so mad about Bale snubbing United in the summer that he would not pursue Bale again.

Regardless of that though, Jonathan Barnett, the long-time representative of Bale, says his client has no intention of leaving the Spanish capital.

“I think I am the best agent in the world. My agency Stellar has more than 100 players, it’s the biggest one out there. I really respect (Mino) Raiola and Jorge Mendes, we are like the Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar of agents,” Barnett told Tuttosport.

“Bale? I think he’s worth as much as Neymar. He loves Real Madrid and doesn’t want to leave. Gareth does not need Ronaldo to leave Real Madrid, he is already a top star of the club.

“Bale is such a positive example for children. You will never see him in a fast food restaurant. He goes to bed early and I don’t think he is worse than Neymar.

“He can also battle it out for the Ballon d’Or in the future. When he joined Real Madrid Florentino Perez gifted me a pen to sign contracts. I always have it with me now.

“I think no Serie A club can afford to buy Bale. There was the interest of a top Italian club but I can’t name it. Tottenham, however, refused to sell him.”

In August Mourinho admitted he would make a move for Bale if he was not in the plans of Madrid.

“If he’s playing tomorrow then I wouldn’t think of that [signing Bale],” Mourinho said . “If he’s playing tomorrow it’s because he’s in the club’s plans. He has that ambition to continue in Madrid.

“I haven’t even thought about the possibility. If he’s not in the club plans – that what you are writing is true – with the arrival of another player, then we’ll try to wait for him on the other side and fight with other coaches.

“If he plays tomorrow it’s probably confirmation they’ll count on him next season.”

Bale though started the Skopje clash, which Real won 2-1, and afterwards Mourinho admitted defeat in his pursuit of the player.

“Clearly the club wants him, the manager wants him and for me he wants the club, so for me it’s game over. Even before it started, but clearly game over.

“I think everybody knows know he is going to stay,” Mourinho told BT Sport.