Agent reveals ​Bale chose Tottenham over Man Utd because of Giggs | OneFootball

Real Madrid loanee and current Tottenham star Gareth Bale could have gone to Manchester United when he was a youngster - if it was not for Ryan Giggs.

Bale was a huge prospect as a teenager developing in the Southampton setup.

The Welshman was linked to United and Arsenal, and was very close to joining the former at one stage, but he ended up going to Tottenham when he was 17.

According to The Athletic, Bale seriously thought about going to United, but he felt first team opportunities would be less with the Red Devils.

United had Ryan Giggs as an established left winger, and they had other stars in attacking roles.

Speaking to The Athletic, Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett said: "We turned down offers for bigger money because money at that stage was not that important. It's his career path, and the best opportunity, that matters.

"And that's what we do with every player. Money will come. I have the utmost respect for Mino [Raiola] in this regard, where he puts his players and how he plans. He's a genius. And that's the truth."