Man United offered more money for Bale than Real Madrid reveals agent

Published Nov. 16, 2014 7:28 a.m. ET

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Manchester United offered Gareth Bale a more lucrative deal to chose them over Real Madrid, according to his agent.

Bale joined Real from Tottenham in August 2013 for a world-record transfer fee. The deal concluded a summer-long saga, with Spurs' reluctance to sell forcing Real to pay around £85million.

United, under new manager David Moyes, emerged as a late contender for Bale's signature, but the then-Premier League champions failed to persuade the Welshman to opt for Old Trafford rather than the Bernabeu, despite offering the player a more lucrative deal.

"He always wanted to play for Madrid. He could have gone to United and other clubs, but he wanted to go to Madrid," said Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett.

When quizzed on whether United would have been willing to pay Bale more, his agent replied: "Not much more, but more."

Barnett also revealed that Real Madrid were not Bale's only suitor in Spain. He continued in an interview with AS: "I know that at one time Barcelona were also interested in him, but he said he did not want to go there.

"I'm sure he is going to be the best player in the world. He will win the Ballon d'Or. He's 25. I told the president and Jose Angel Sanchez and they laughed. They are not laughing so much now.

"I said that Bale was a better player than Neymar and has more of an impact. In Wales there are far fewer people in Brazil, unfortunately. But in the world I think Gareth is best known and important."