Gareth Bale is...The most expensive player ever?!

Anyone else not remember this happening at all? It happened a few times in 07/08 (most notably in one leg v Barca) but he said he didn't enjoy it and I don't remember it happening any more than a couple of times after that.
You're probably right, maybe 4 times in his whole Utd career? Tended to be tough away CL fixtures. Twice vs Barcelona, once vs Arsenal and...?
There will be odd games we'll have forgotten about, pretty sure he did it against Roma away and Newcastle away at some point too.
 
There will be odd games we'll have forgotten about, pretty sure he did it against Roma away and Newcastle away at some point too.

Yeah, probably. Think he did play that role vs Roma actually.
 
Anyone else not remember this happening at all? It happened a few times in 07/08 (most notably in one leg v Barca) but he said he didn't enjoy it and I don't remember it happening any more than a couple of times after that.

That definitely rarely happened. In 07/08 for the most part, it was Rooney and Tevez up front with Ronaldo on one wing, then a less attacking winger on the other side. There were a few games like the Barca one but it rarely happened. In 08/09, it happened even less really, because of our striking options. I think it happened in the final against Barca but other then that, I can't remember. Most of the time he played on the wing, in an advanced position but very rarely did he play right through the middle.
 
Anyone else not remember this happening at all? It happened a few times in 07/08 (most notably in one leg v Barca) but he said he didn't enjoy it and I don't remember it happening any more than a couple of times after that.

I do, also he played there this season for Real and the role is too restricted for him. Part of the reason he is so dangerous is because he cannot be picked up positionally he pops up everywhere.
 
Anyone else not remember this happening at all? It happened a few times in 07/08 (most notably in one leg v Barca) but he said he didn't enjoy it and I don't remember it happening any more than a couple of times after that.

He did it at times in UCL. In the final of Rome he started as a striker, I think that also in semi against Arsenal he played there though he interchanged position with Rooney. I don't remember that in league except a game against Chelsea though. Probably 5 times in his career here.
 
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.../united-chief-woodward-ready-sanction-5098658

Manchester United are prepared to back new manager David Moyes to the hilt in the summer transfer market and have not ruled out going after a "stellar player".
The club's chief executive Ed Woodward insists the resources are there to recruit top-drawer talent and said they are "absolutely" able to compete for players in the £60million-£70million bracket.
"We haven't got money burning a hole in our pocket but we have got a strategy on player purchases and if David wants to go after a stellar player he can do that," he said, in quotes carried by several of the national Sunday newspapers.
United have been linked with Tottenham star Gareth Bale - a player that Moyes' predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign in 2007 before he joined Spurs - and there has also been speculation regarding a sensational bid to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo, who left United for Real Madrid in 2009 for a world-record £80million fee.
 
I think clubs will let Spurs stew for another year outside of the Champions league, go another year without the prospect of it returning the next and see how firm their resistance is when faced with a fifth successive year without that revenue will be to keep hold of Gareth Bale as he edges nearer to the end of his contract.
 
Madrid fans were chanting "We want Bale" at Illaramendi's unveiling right? :lol:

Doubt he's leaving Spurs this summer & next summer, if he continues his progression, Madrid seem frontrunners
 
Knowing how Spurs operate, they'll cling on to Bale for at least one more season before selling him for a mini fortune. Would be a massive signing for Moyes if we did make it happen this summer mind.

I'd be shocked if it happened. The only club capable of signing Bale this Summer are Real Madrid and I doubt they will pull it off after already spending €70m on Isco and Illarramendi, Bale would probably cost more than €50m.
 
I'm a Baleiever. I think we could see him put in the kind of performances you'd expect from a £50 million player next season. Just a question of who he'll be playing for
 
I think from a financial point of view, it would make more sense to see how Nani, Valencia and Zaha fare this season and then assess the situation again next summer, when £10 or so million will probably be shaved off Bale's price, even if he has a similar season. Although I'd still want him this summer obviously :drool:
 
I think from a financial point of view, it would make more sense to see how Nani, Valencia and Zaha fare this season and then assess the situation again next summer, when £10 or so million will probably be shaved off Bale's price, even if he has a similar season. Although I'd still want him this summer obviously :drool:

Zaha will be given more than one year to prove himself, which I expect him to do anyway, but if you say Young instead then I would say it's a likely situation.
 
I'd be shocked if it happened. The only club capable of signing Bale this Summer are Real Madrid and I doubt they will pull it off after already spending €70m on Isco and Illarramendi, Bale would probably cost more than €50m.


Well my opinion on the matter is if Dave really wants to make a huge signing, he's the one we should be going for. Its whether the Glazers would sanction such a big money move. He'd be worth the money imo, for his on field performances but also his off field money potential. He's a super star type signing and there's no doubt in my mind he'd be a huge success at United. I'm just not convinced we'd ever spend that amount of money on one player.
 
Coming from Everton it would be a big step up and would set the tone for Moyes. As long as Bale was a good signing for the price it would be fine with the oard and fans, but the risk of him underwhelming is something which should be considered it is low though. He gets to do what he wants at Spurs that helps to get the best out of him performance wise. Our wingers are solid not a strong point but hopefully Nani refreshed and ready and Valencia showing at least half of his form form two seasons ago they will do fine as a unit. Zaha will need a year or two.
 
I'm a Baleiever. I think we could see him put in the kind of performances you'd expect from a £50 million player next season. Just a question of who he'll be playing for


feck me, that sounded even worse than a Belieber.:devil:

He's convinced me this season, so no objections here if Moyes were to go for him. I'm expecting the call from David anytime now.
 
I disagree.

I would also fancy us over Madrid for his signature. Purely because he is British.

If we really have the cash we should get this done,

I agree with this. United with Fergie has always tried to sign the best of British or British isles based players, whether they have been established or up and coming. Some, United have failed in getting(Gascoigne, Shearer) and some United have been successful in getting. (Keane, Rio, Rooney.)

Most foreign stars see Real Madrid and Barcelona as the pinnacle of club football and United are seen very much in the second tier along the likes of Bayern, Juventus ,Milan, plus United are also competing with the new money clubs, Chelsea, PSG, City etc.

United should be hoovering up the best of British, and Bale fits that category. He is a world-class player, at a club who cannot guarantee him CL football, let alone competing for the title. He will solve United's attacking left side issue for at least 5 to 7 years. There will not be any language or settling in a new country issues, and he seems a nice lad.

If United want to make a statement of intent in the new Moyes era, Bale should be the number 1 target.
 
I'd have him in a heartbeat obviously. And on paper I think its the ideal signing at the ideal time for both Utd and Bale, and arguably Spurs, who would have a serious amount of cash to invest into what is already a very good squad.

I don't see it happening though, simply because I think Spurs would be looking for far too much money for him given 1. They'd be selling to a domestic rival, 2. Bales profile means no shortage of admirers and 3. Utd's obvious desire to bring in a big player.

I don't think he'll push for a move from Spurs this year either, and unless he was to do that I don't see him leaving this year. The potential of getting into the CL next year will outweigh what they would get for him this year IMO.
 
I'd rather we spent £60m to bring him than £20m on Garay, £18m on Baines and £24m on Fellaini, it's not going to happen though. It'd improve our team far more.
 
giggs has to play his part if we are going to persuade bale signing for united, if the club are interested in signing him of course.

zidane is always in the news tapping up talented young french players to sign for real, as he has done with varane. bale is welsh, giggs is supposedly should be his idol, can we just for once benefit from this kind of situation? i hope so.
 
In an ideal world I'd like to see him sign for United. Should have plenty of good years ahead of him. I think he'd love to come to United, Giggs is his hero, he became a dad less than 9 months ago, so perhaps it would be more convenient to stay in Britain. Also, he'd probably not be looking for outrgaeous wages, he'd probably be looking for 100-200k a week less than Ronaldo.

However he probably would be comfortable with going abroad, especially in 12 months time when it would be easier to move for family reasons. And by far the biggest stumbling block for me is Daniel Levy. I think he'd rather sell Bale for 5-10 million less to a foreign club like Real Madrid. The Zeki Fryers issue was like the behaviour of a petulant child.They could have got several million more for Modric from Chelsea 2 years ago than they got from Real last summer. I think there's very little chance of it happening, this summer or next summer. I can see him go to Real Madrid in 12 months time.
 
This summer has the potential to be the biggest anti-climax ever.
 
In an ideal world I'd like to see him sign for United. Should have plenty of good years ahead of him. I think he'd love to come to United, Giggs is his hero, he became a dad less than 9 months ago, so perhaps it would be more convenient to stay in Britain. Also, he'd probably not be looking for outrgaeous wages, he'd probably be looking for 100-200k a week less than Ronaldo.

However he probably would be comfortable with going abroad, especially in 12 months time when it would be easier to move for family reasons. And by far the biggest stumbling block for me is Daniel Levy. I think he'd rather sell Bale for 5-10 million less to a foreign club like Real Madrid. The Zeki Fryers issue was like the behaviour of a petulant child.They could have got several million more for Modric from Chelsea 2 years ago than they got from Real last summer. I think there's very little chance of it happening, this summer or next summer. I can see him go to Real Madrid in 12 months time.
He'll leave next summer if Spurs don't make the Champions League. As you say though, I can't see Levy being willing to sell him to another Premier League club. Madrid and Barca have been lining him up for a long time now, and if he does want out next summer which is likely if Spurs miss out on Europe, I can't see a Premier League club competing for him.

He'd be a huge signing if we could pull it off though. He's British, and if we have the funds available, it would be a huge statement of intent.
 
If United do get Bale, United will have 5 wingers. Surely one of them will go or in part exchange, probably Nani?


I don't think Bale will leave, plus there are strong reports that Nani will stay and renew his contract here, which is a major positive. I'll be extremely happy if he joined, but all signs point to him staying.

Can a mod please merge the two Bale threads.
 
I don't think Bale will leave, plus there are strong reports that Nani will stay and renew his contract here, which is a major positive. I'll be extremely happy if he joined, but all signs point to him staying.

Can a mod please merge the two Bale threads.

We usually have two different threads when transfers are going on, so comments about the player and their ability is in one and transfer speculation is in another so that threads become less cluttered and if people just want to see comments on the transfer or the player's ability, they don't have to search through pages to find them.
 
We usually have two different threads when transfers are going on, so comments about the player and their ability is in one and transfer speculation is in another so that threads become less cluttered and if people just want to see comments on the transfer or the player's ability, they don't have to search through pages to find them.

I didn't know that. Thanks, Damien.
 
AVB says that Bale is now a Real Madrid player. Now we can use this thread? :) It will be interesting to see where he'll fit in.
 
Finally done. One major transfer saga that actually went through in the end.