Jose Mourinho Makes Gareth Bale Transfer Joke Before Man United Top Real Madrid

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho aimed a transfer joke at Real Madrid star Gareth Bale prior to their International Champions Cup friendly on Sunday, saying the winger can't be signed if he doesn't talk to the Red Devils boss. 

Spanish television cameras recorded the pair meeting before United beat the European champions at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and Mourinho said, per MailOnline's Pete Jenson: "I can't buy you because you don't talk to me."

United beat Los Blancos 2-1 on penalties after drawing 1-1, with Casemiro levelling from the spot following Jesse Lingard's first-half breakthrough.

Jenson's report included video of the encounter in question, where Mourinho made it clear to the player he'd be interested in taking Bale back to the Premier League:

Earlier this summer, United boss Mourinho described an attempt to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Real as "mission impossible," per BBC Sport, and Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol provided quotes suggesting the Portuguese sees Bale in the same light:

But Real can take comfort in the knowledge their wide star has a contract that runs until 2022, and Bale will be eager to add to his trophy collection in Madrid after winning a third UEFA Champions League crown in May.

Jenson described the Welshman as "British football's most successful export ever," which is difficult to argue with given he helped Los Blancos become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League.

And Bale appears ready to remain in the Spanish capital after declaring Real are eyeing bigger and better accolades in 2017-18. After Sunday's result, he said, per Madrid website Defensa Central (h/t Sport):

“As a team, we want to win everything, but we know it's very difficult. We'll fight to do things well in every game without thinking beyond that. We want to carry on winning trophies. When you win, you never like to stop. The 'sextet' is our aim. We have six trophies to play for and we want to win them all. We're preparing for an exciting season.”

United have already splurged £75 million to bring Romelu Lukaku to Old Trafford from Everton this summer, but Bale is a far more difficult pursuit given the standards he maintains at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

The Red Devils may stand a chance of convincing the former Tottenham Hotspur talisman—and his employers—to cut a deal in years to come, but Mourinho may have to settle for minimal contact with the player until then.