Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Reacts to Real Madrid Exit Rumours

Gareth Bale has quashed rumours about a potential move to Manchester United before they reach hyperbolic status, insisting he couldn’t be happier at Real Madrid and wants to stay beyond the length of his current contract.

The Welsh winger has been subject to a whirlwind of speculation, but Bale moved to dispel any prospect of a transfer in the wake of the European champions’ recent 4-2 friendly defeat to AC Milan in Dubai, per Marca (h/t Paul Gorst of The Mirror):

"

Manchester United? I am happy in Madrid.

I love the city, the weather and the club. I am eager to win more silverware here.

I have a contract with Real Madrid until 2019 and I could remain there for more years after it.

"

Handout/Getty Images

These quotes should abate any lingering talk of an imminent transfer for the former Tottenham man, who United were reportedly considering a money-spinning bid for, per John Richardson of the Express.

And, although reports surfaced suggesting that most Madridistas would be happy to see Bale leave the Santiago Bernabeu—per AS, any intent to sell the player would have been curious on the part of the club itself.

Here’s a look at why:

Indeed, while he may not have accrued heights as stratospheric as Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of goalscoring, the 27-year-old has become a critical component in a scintillating attacking triumvirate for the European champions, alongside the aforementioned Portuguese and Karim Benzema.

It’s a trio that you expect Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti would be at loath to break-up; we can see why courtesy of the Real Madrid Twitter account:

Bale has scored some massive goals for the club too. His surging run and finish against Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey was iconic enough to give him hero status among Madrid supporters, but the winning goal against Atletico Madrid in the final of the 2014 Champions League ascended him to immortal reverence among plenty.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

It was a standpoint confirmed by the club’s president Florentino Perez in the aforementioned piece, who reaffirmed the significance of Bale at the Santiago Bernabeu and denied any approach from United:

"

Bale is not for sale and we will never listen to any offers for him. I cannot imagine Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo, nor Gareth Bale.

This is a unique player who has already given us a lot and is crucial to the future of the club.

We have not received an offer from Manchester or any other club for Gareth Bale.

"

Paul White/Associated Press

But as noted here by John Brewin of ESPN, Perez is a man who has been known to change his mind quickly on transfer matters in the past:

The prospect of Bale trailblazing up and down the flanks for United with his patented dynamism is something that will have tantalisingly crossed the mind of all Red Devils supporters in recent weeks. And while this news will come as something of a blow—who wouldn’t want the Welshman in the team, after all—any move in January would have been wildly ambitious. 

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Sam Pilger of FourFourTwo thinks it’s a transfer that could happen in the coming year, though:

A move in the midseason window would have been plain indulgent, too. United have other areas of this squad that are in far greater need of an injection of quality and Madrid’s boisterous perspective ahead of the new year should see Van Gaal bolster his back line and defensive-midfield options as he looks to steer this team toward the Premier League summit.

United fans look as though they’ll have to admire Bale from afar for the remainder of this season at least, but given the club’s financial muscle and Madrid’s patent for wanting the hottest, high-profile talents—a new one will surely emerge over the coming 12 months—it’d be no surprise to see these links rumble on beyond the January window.