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EURO GLORY IS NOT HIS NO.1 PRIORITY /PAGES 62&63
GARY Neville has told Gareth Bale to prove he wants to join United.
The Real Madrid forward threw his future into doubt after his match-winning display in the Champions League final.
That has put United on red alert, with Jose Mourinho and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward both huge admirers of the Welshman. And with Zinedine Zidane having quit the Spanish club yesterday, Bale’s future at the Bernabeu is even more uncertain.
But Neville doesn’t want his former club to get embroiled in a futile chase for Bale in what is a pivotal summer for Mourinho.
United have targeted Bale every year since his 2013 move from Tottenham to Real. They were drawing up plans to launch a fresh bid this summer before signing Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in January.
Bale’s revelation that he is disatisfied with his first-team opportunities at Real could see United move again - but Neville insists it is up to the 28-year-old to prove he sees his future at Old Trafford.
“I’ve got a lot of admiration for him as a player,” Neville said. “I’d like to see (Lionel) Messi play for United or (Cristiano) Ronaldo or Neymar, but the reality is they’ve got to want to come to the club.
“That’s the first question that needs to be asked.
“If he wants to come to United then absolutely, yes, because he’s a fantastic player and he is a game changer.
“For me, every top club is looking for that player who is the difference who can turn the big games.”
Zidane’s shock resignation from Real could prompt a rethink from Bale, who was due for talks about his future with his agent Jonathan Barnett. After scoring two goals as a substitute in Real’s 3-1 win against Liverpool in the Champions League final, Bale told BT Sport: “I need to be playing week in, week out, and that’s not happened this season. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it.”