Scholes: I’d love Bale at United, but I can’t see it

Paul Scholes would love to see Gareth Bale in a Manchester United shirt next season but feels a potential transfer is unrealistic.

Bale ended a frustrating season at Real Madrid on a high with the matchwinning goals in Saturday’s 3-1 Champions League final victory over Liverpool.

The Wales forward, whose dou- b l e after he came on as a substitute included an audacious overhead kick, hinted after the game that he may be willing to leave Madrid as he needs to be starting games regularly.

United great Scholes believes every fan at Old Trafford would be excited by the prospect of Bale’s arrival, although he concedes a deal is unlikely.

“Can I see it happening? No, not really,” said Scholes. “The only reason he’d want to leave Real Madrid would be if they wanted him to go.

“Could he come to Man United then? I hope so. Every United fan would want him: great ability, great talent, scores great goals.

“If it’s possible then, yeah, great, I hope it happens. But I don’t see it happening.”

Bale, who cost Real around £85million to sign from Tottenham in 2013, is reported to have been on United’s radar for a number of years.

The 28-year-old was on the bench in Kiev having become a peripheral figure at the Bernabeu this season, but he quickly underlined his value to Zinedine Zidane’s side with a superb cameo.

This was Madrid’s third successive triumph, while Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to win five Champions League medals.

Scholes, who spent six seasons playing alongside Ronaldo at United, hailed his former team-mate’s achievements as “amazing” and said he was the best player in the world.

“The amount of goals he’s scored and the trophies he’s won - five Champions Leagues, it’s amazing,” said Scholes.