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Transfer news: Sky sources: Gareth Bale will not return to Tottenham

270813 - Gareth Bale - London
Image: Gareth Bale: No return to Tottenham

Sky sources understand that Gareth Bale does not intend to return to Tottenham's training ground again.

Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague insists it is only a matter of time before Madrid overcome the tough negotiating of Tottenham, and the concerns of Cristiano Ronaldo, to sign Bale. Balague told this week's Revista that Real believed they had agreed a deal to sign the Tottenham forward for 100m euros last Wednesday only for Levy to "move the goalposts" and Real to respond by submitting lower offer from the player, believed to be around 90m euros - potentially due to concerns from Ronaldo. "Real Madrid on Wednesday that they had a deal but it has not been confirmed and it won't be confirmed until Daniel Levy decides so," Balague told Revista. "I think he is quickly becoming, if he hasn't already, the toughest negotiator in world football." Balague continued: "On Wednesday night some of us were briefed that the deal was done. There was a fee agreed and it was about to happen. Some people mentioned Thursday or Friday as a possibility, then Monday or Tuesday. "But Real Madrid were so clear that they had finally got an agreement that they put a stage up to received Gareth Bale and with it being a massive transfer fee they wanted to do it the way they normally do it with a lot of press and media and fans. "The whole thing was geared up for the deal to come through. The fee had been agreed and it was just a matter of signing."

Number one

However, Balague says Spurs then "put the brakes on" and Madrid responded by tabling a lower offer of 90m euros due to the concerns of Ronaldo, who is currently negotiating a new contract with the club and wants to remain as the most expensive player in history. "Real Madrid have changed the fee they have put in for Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo is the reason for it," Balague said. "Perez was going to pay 100m euros, which is more than the 96m euros they paid for Ronaldo, so Ronaldo and his people asked, 'what is this 100m'? "So they (Real Madrid) say to Spurs, 'instead of 100m in six payments it is now going to 90m euros'. Cristiano Ronaldo still feels he has to be treated as the number one person and Real Madrid, so 96m euros should never be overcome. That is going to be interesting when it all happens and Gareth Bale goes to Real Madrid. "Florentino Perez on one hand has this issue of having to deal with the happiness of Ronaldo and then with the issue of Daniel Levy just changing the goalposts a little bit. But in any case it just looks like a matter of time."

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