Paul Scholes Is Right to Say Gareth Bale Would Be Perfect for Manchester United

Manchester United might never get a better chance to sign Gareth Bale.

Whistled by his own fans at the Bernabeu and crucified by Madrid's press pack, he could be forgiven for asking himself if he needs all this. He even had his car vandalised after the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona last weekend. Criticising poor performances is fair enough, but that's a bit much.

United could match his wage at Real Madrid and offer him a move closer to home. He would also be spared the embarrassment of returning to the Premier League as a failure, after he was so integral to Madrid winning the Champions League and Copa Del Rey last season.

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It was his dream move. But sometimes they don't work out the way you had hoped. Just look at Cesc Fabregas' return to England last summer.

Paul Scholes, for one, believes the 25-year-old would be "perfect" for Louis van Gaal.

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My feeling is that he would be perfect for Manchester United.

Of course, as a fan of my former club I would like to see him there but, looking at it objectively, I always felt that Bale was a natural fit for United as he developed at Tottenham from a left-back into one of the best attacking footballers in the country.

He would be loved at Old Trafford. In return I believe he could turn Louis van Gaal’s team into serious title contenders next season. In my years at United I witnessed some signings who, over their careers, transformed the fortunes of the team.

From Eric Cantona when I was an apprentice, to Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney. These were great footballers who became great United players. Bale has the potential to make as much of an impact as any of them.

All good players need to be appreciated. Bale would be coming to United in a time of change when the team is looking for leaders. Madrid will always be in a state of upheaval, with new presidents and a fresh intake of players each summer.

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If United are interested, there might never be a better time to ask the question than this summer. Florentino Perez has form for selling star names. Just look at Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria.

Bale wouldn't just be a vanity buy for United. As Scholes says, there are some signings who push teams to another level. And Bale has that ability.

He can also offer Louis van Gaal football's most dangerous weapon and something the Dutchman has been crying out for all season: pace.

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If the Dutchman's long-term plan is to play a variation of 4-3-3, then a forward line of Di Maria, Rooney and Bale is a frightening prospect. Not just for the Premier League but for the Champions League, too.

Van Gaal will continue his rebuild at Old Trafford this summer. And if he feels Bale offers the balance his craves in his teams, then the Welshman will be on the list of targets.

It won't have escaped Ed Woodward and the Glazers that Bale has reason to be unsettled in Madrid. And it may be the perfect time to pop the question in a bid to get, as Scholes puts it, their perfect player.