Florentino Perez claims interest from Old Trafford prompted Real to pay world record fee.
Perez on Bale deal: “We found out at a certain moment that Man United were going to make an offer. That is when we made ours.” #RMCF #MUFC
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 24, 2013
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says Manchester United were interested in signing Gareth Bale from Tottenham this summer.
Los Blancos paid a world record £86m to land the 24-year-old last month after lengthy negotiations between the two clubs.
In late August, it was reported that another club, believed to be United, were interested in signing the Wales international and Red Devils boss David Moyes refused to deny the reports.
Perez has now claimed that Real only bid for Bale when they were made aware of an imminent offer from Old Trafford.
“We found out at a certain moment that Man United were going to make an offer. That is when we made ours,” the Spaniard is quoted as saying by ESPN.
Bale, who netted 21 Premier League goals last season, scored on his Los Merengues debut against Villareal and bagged an assist from the bench in his first Champions League run out for the Spanish giants against Galatasaray.
But the Wales international was prevented from making his home La Liga debut against Getafe on Sunday after picking up an injury in the warm-up, with Real head-coach Carlo Ancelotti claiming that Bale’s lack of pre-season action was responsible for the forward’s lack of fitness.
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