The Frenchman wishes he had Tottenham’s talisman.
Arsene Wenger has admitted that it was a mistake not to sign Gareth Bale for Arsenal from Southampton when he had the chance, with Tottenham snapping up the superstar.
When Spurs bought the Welshman in 2007 for £12.9m he had been playing as a left-back and Wenger did not need to strengthen in that area of the pitch.
“We didn’t take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and didn’t want another left-back,” the 63-year-old was quoted in the Sun.
“I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at the start at Tottenham, then they moved him to midfield and he has done exceptionally well.”
Bale is now one of the most sought after players in world football and figures as high as £85m have been linked with the transfer of the player.
In fact it was a last gasp act by Wenger’s team that has made the 23-year-old’s departure from White Hart Lane all the more likely, as Arsenal’s one point finish above Spurs denied their rivals Champions League football in 2013/14 – something that would help tempt Bale to stay.
In the current market it is now highly unlikely that the Wales international will ever be seen in a Gunners shirt, with Manchester United and Real Madrid leading the way to land the Tottenham talisman.
Wenger will therefore have to turn his attentions elsewhere to strengthen his Emirates team, although keeping an eye on Saints’ academy may not be such a bad idea because as well as Bale, Theo Walcott was also a product of the Hampshire club.
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