Liverpool nearly beat Spurs to sensational signing of Gareth Bale as Man Utd put on alert

Rafa Benitez admits he tried to sign Gareth Bale for Liverpool

RAFA BENITEZ has admitted he tried to sign Gareth Bale when he was manager of Liverpool.

 

The Real Madrid boss claims he approached Southampton about their star in 2006 but was flatly rejected.

He eventually moved to Tottenham the following year and went on to become the world's most expensive footballer when he moved to Real Madrid in 2013.

“Back in 2006 I went to see Southampton," Benitez told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

“We transferred a player to Southampton but they wouldn’t give us Bale. We then tried to buy him, we couldn’t. I’ve known for a long time he was a great player.

“[Jamie] Carragher has made the mistake of saying I preferred [John Arne] Riise, but it wasn’t like that.”

Benitez now manages the Welshman, 26, everyday at Madrid and faces a different battle in trying to keep him happy in the Spanish capital.

Bale and team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo are currently embroiled in a war of words which was started by Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett.

 

Benitez has had to intervene in a row between Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo

He claimed Ronaldo was an "underwear seller", comments that have prompted a backlash from the Spanish media.

Reports emerged yesterday claiming Benitez has had to intervene and did so by contacting Bale by phone while he was on international duty with Wales for clear-the-air talks.

Manchester United are understood to have been alerted to the news and could be waiting in the wings if Bale's situation in Spain becomes untenable.

They were willing to pay a world record transfer fee to sign him in the summer and could swoop again if he becomes available.