Ande Villas-Boas shows 'not for sale' banner again

André Villas-Boas has strongly denied that Gareth Bale is on the verge of joining Real Madrid, insisting that the only contact Tottenham Hotspur have had with the Spanish giants amounted to letting them know the Welshman is not for sale.

Although reports in Spain over the weekend suggested a world record ¤100m (£86.3m) deal was close to being finalised for Bale, who is desperate for Tottenham to allow him to make his dream move to the Bernabéu, Villas-Boas continues to maintain that the 24-year-old figures heavily in his plans for the coming season. He was also critical of his Real counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti, for making the talks between the two clubs public.

"I think the rumours that anything is imminent are not true," the Spurs manager said. "We've allowed ourselves conversations with Real Madrid, confirmed by their coach, I think, wrongly, but the only thing we've communicated is that the player is our player and not for sale."

It has been made clear that Bale, who was missing as a makeshift Tottenham side lost 5-2 in a friendly at Monaco on Saturday, wishes to leave White Hart Lane and the club's position is weakened by their inability to offer a player regarded as one of the best in the world Champions League football after they finished fifth last season. Bale, however, has been frustrated by Tottenham's refusal to budge, with the chairman, Daniel Levy, proving as hard-nosed as ever.


/The Guardian/