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Gareth Bale: Former boss explains why Real Madrid outcast will return to England
GARETH BALE will more than likely leave Real Madrid this summer to return to the Premier League, according to his former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.
The Wales international’s future at Real Madrid has been in major doubt ever since Zinedine Zidane returned to the club in March.
Gareth Bale struggled for first-team football during the tail-end of Zidane’s first reign and has only made four starts since the Frenchman’s reappointment.
Zidane himself has cast doubt over Bale’s future in the Spanish capital by refusing to clarify his stance on the forward, who he took a swipe at after Real’s 2-0 home defeat to Real Betis.
“He [Bale] has won a lot here but we live for the present and the future,” Zidane said. “We will not forget the past but we have to live for the day-to-day.
“I have counted on other players in more in recent weeks. I make these decisions when it is right to do so, and I must act in the best interests of the team at all times.”
Ever since Zidane’s return to Madrid, Bale has been linked with a mega-money return to the Premier League, with moves to Manchester United and Tottenham being mooted.
Villas-Boas, like many others, believes Bale’s days as a Real Madrid player are drawing to a close and expects him to return to England in the coming months.
"I have no idea what he wants to do," the Portuguese told Omnisport at the Bilbao International Football Summit.
Yyou would expect him to go to England now
"He was extremely successful at Real Madrid. He left Tottenham to chase trophies and achieved that immediately, scoring in Champions League finals.
"Of course, at the moment, there's a lot of bad noise surrounding him. A lot of criticism, [there is] probably not a lot of confidence from the coach right now.
"It looks more likely that he's going to leave and you would expect him to go to England now."
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was quizzed about a summer swoop for Bale during an interview with El Chiringuito TV earlier this week but remained coy on a potential move for the 29-year-old.
“He’s a Real Madrid player," Pochettino said with a smile on his face. "But we have a good relationship.
"We played against him last year. I have good references about him.
“Everyone has a fond memory of him here, just like they do at Southampton.
“He still has three years on his contract at Madrid. It’s a situation that isn’t easy for him and isn’t easy for the club."