Real Madrid President Reveals United Showed First Interest In Wing Wizard

Florentino Perez has revealed that it was Manchester United that forced Real Madrid into action in order too land Gareth Bale as it was the English giants that first tabled a bid for the former Tottenham man in the summer.

Bale sealed a move to Madrid after a summer full of speculation, and though the Spanish giants paid a world-record breaking fee for Wales international, Perez insists that he did not overpay for the Tottenham winger as United were also attempting to bring the 24 year old to Old Trafford.

"Bale came to Madrid relatively cheap," he told Cadena SER. "Signing the best players out there is Madrid's philosophy and Bale was the best available player this summer. We had been following him for two years.

"Tottenham initially did not want to sell, but when we heard Manchester United made an offer, we tabled a bid ourselves. His childhood dream to play for Madrid eventually proved to be decisive."

Bale missed his home debut for Madrid at the weekend with a muscle strain in his thigh and faces a fight to be fit in time for the side's derby match with Atletico Madrid next weekend.

But the winger has so far made a positive start to his career with Madrid, scoring on his debut for the side as they eventually drew 2-2 with Villarreal.

It would appear that Bale joins a host of targets United missed out on in the summer, with Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara also turning down moves to the English giants, while they were also unable to seal deals for Leighton Baines and Ander Herrera.