Harry Redknapp dismisses claims he tried to sell Gareth Bale in his early Tottenham days

Harry Redknapp dismisses claims he tried to sell Gareth Bale in his early Tottenham days
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has rubbished rumours he tried to sell Gareth Bale during his time at White Hart Lane.Redknapp was Spurs boss during Bales meteoric rise to stardom, as the Welshman transformed from a bit-part player to a world beater.However, Bales Tottenham career got off to a dreadful start following his 10million move from Southampton in 2007.Amazingly, the club did not record a single victory in any of Bales first 24 appearances, leading many to question whether he should be picked.Getty3

Bale became one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players

And rumours emerged to suggest Redknapp was listening to offers as low as 3million from Birmingham, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham.However, in 2009, Redknapp said: “I’m not looking for a left-back because you won’t get a better one than Gareth Bale.”His faith was eventually repaid as Bale moved forward to left-wing and became one of Tottenhams greatest ever players. Despite his recent struggles at Real Madrid, whom he joined for 85m in 2013, he remains among the worlds top talents, and Redknapp says it’s ludicrous to think he wouldve ever sold the Welshman.He was fantastic,” Redknapp told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.Maicon was supposed to be the best right-back in the world and he almost ended his career at the San Siro. He was amazing.Someone came up with a rumour that I was trying to loan him out to Coventry or something, never at any time.3

Redknapp claims he always rated Bale

I watched him play for Tottenham while I was manager of Portsmouth, in a game against Fulham, and I thought, What a player this guy is.Bale finally broke his winless hoodoo as a late substitute during the 5-0 victory over Burnley in 2009, and Redknapp admits it was a conscious decision to end the curse.If he came on as sub he didnt win, if he started we didnt win.

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So I stuck him on against Burnley when we were 3-0 up with six minutes to go. I thought, He cant mess this up!We got the win and he got the monkey off his back.”Bale has come in for widespread criticism from the Spanish press for an alleged attitude problem, and he was even booed by the Bernabeu faithful during their recent defeat to Barcelona.3

Redknapp says Bale is a ‘bit of a loner’

His agent has been forced to defend him from claims hes hardly bothered to learn Spanish and doesnt get along with his team-mates.And Redknapp admits the Welshman is not the sociable type.Hes not a lad who goes out and enjoys a day at the races, I think hes a bit of a loner, he added.Hes a nice, quiet lad.

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