Champions League place will keep Bale at Tottenham, says Villas-Boas
Tottenham must qualify for the Champions League if they are to retain the services of Gareth Bale, amid rumoured interest from some of Europe’s elite - that is the verdict of Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, according to the Guardian, after Real Madrid were reportedly preparing a summer move for the Welsh winger.
The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals for Spurs this season, as well as four more in the red of Wales, and has previously expressed his admiration for Spanish champions Real, who continue to monitor the situation between player and club in North London.
With the former Southampton winger aware that major international tournaments with Wales will be relatively limited, and having earned a taste for continental competition during Spurs’ previous run in the Champions League in 2010-11, Bale is determined to continue to perform at the highest level possible.
Villas-Boas, however, believes that as long as Spurs can reach the tournament they will remain favourites to retain the services of a player who has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest in recent seasons.
He said: “Players who are performing at this level always get the attention. It doesn't mean that the club doesn't foresee a future with Gareth. It's intimately related to the objectives that we achieve for the season. Hopefully, we can do just that with the Champions League and continue to progress on what we are doing.
“It's difficult for us to have a player of this dimension playing so well, calling the attention of other teams but it's also difficult for other teams, with the economic situation as it is, to buy a player of this dimension. At the moment, we are very, very fortunate to have him.”
The former Chelsea coach continued: “I think we can reach our objectives with him at this level and if we reach our objectives, we can hopefully continue to have Gareth in our club. He's a player we rate very, very highly and aren't willing to let go.
“The Champions League is where most of the clubs want to be, and where most of the players want to play. It's part of our objectives so hopefully achieving it means we can attract better players and continue to hold on to our best players.”
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