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Manchester United Bid For Gareth Bale, Says Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez

Madrid President Pérez Says United Bid For Bale
Samuel Luckhurst

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez claims Manchester United bid for Gareth Bale.

Bale joined Madrid from Tottenham in a world record £85.3 million transfer this month and scored on his debut at Villarreal 10 days ago.

Pérez says United's interest was irrelevant since Madrid had tracked Bale for two years.

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Bale had his heart set on a move to Madrid

"Signing the best players out there is Madrid's philosophy and Bale was the best available player on the market this summer," Pérez told Cadena Sur. "We had been following him for two years.

"Tottenham did not want to sell. We learned that Manchester United had made an offer and we made one ourselves."

Though United were interested in Bale, HuffPost UK understands no formal bid was submitted, although Tottenham did contact the Premier League champions offering the Welshman to them, albeit at a higher price than the one Madrid paid. United were also resigned to the fact Bale was determined to join Madrid.

Bale's debut
Gareth Bale(01 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales gestures during their La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo (02 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales and Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal warm up before their La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale(03 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales, center, warms up with teammates before their La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale(04 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales warms up before the La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale(05 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales warms up before the La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale(06 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales warms up before the La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale(07 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales before the La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo (08 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales and Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal before their La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga(09 of15)
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VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Gareth Bale (#11) of Real Madrid watches as Villarreal score their first goal during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid at El Madrigal on September 14, 2013 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Gareth Bale, Jaume Costa(10 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales, left, duels for the ball with Villarreal's Jaume Costa during their La Liga soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Gareth Bale, Uche(11 of15)
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale from Wales, right, duels for the ball with Villarreal's Uche from Nigeria during their La Liga soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (credit:AP)
Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga(12 of15)
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VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Gareth Bale (L) of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid at El Madrigal on September 14, 2013 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga(13 of15)
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VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Gareth Bale (L) of Real Madrid in action against Mario Gaspar of Villarreal during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid at El Madrigal on September 14, 2013 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga(14 of15)
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VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates scoring Real's opening goal during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid at El Madrigal on September 14, 2013 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Villarreal CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga(15 of15)
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VILLARREAL, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates scoring Real's opening goal during the La Liga match between Villarreal and Real Madrid at El Madrigal on September 14, 2013 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Spurs and United's relationship suffered over Dimitar Berbatov's move to Old Trafford in 2008, when Sir Alex Ferguson met the Bulgarian at Manchester airport despite Tottenham's claims their striker had not been given permission to speak with United.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's reputation as an uncompromising negotiator during that deal and Michael Carrick's £18.6m switch in 2006 also put Ferguson off from bidding for Luka Modrić.

Pérez who believes Bale came "cheaply", added Cristiano Ronaldo's contract negotiations were "easy".

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Pérez and Ronaldo after the Portuguese signed a new contract

Shortly after Bale signed, Ronaldo inked a five-year contract extension and stated he wished to finish his career with Real despite considering a return to United.

But Pérez said: "The renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo has been easy - he is determined to finish his career at Real Madrid.

"Cristiano never spoke of money with me."

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