David Moyes confirms Gareth Bale rejected Manchester United for Real Madrid | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale opted against a move to Manchester United in 2013.

The former winger opted to retire from professional football at the start of 2023 on the back of leading Wales to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

As the dust has settled on his time in Madrid, some of the negativity surrounding his final year has ebbed away, with the good times remembered.

As part of an incredible career in the Spanish capital, Bale won three La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions Leagues from 2014 to 2022, after joining from Tottenham, in a world record £85m deal.

However, things could have been very different for Bale, with United lodging a bid for him at the same time as Real Madrid.

Former Red Devils boss David Moyes confirmed his determination to sign Bale but he was left frustrated by his call to head to Madrid.

“I wanted Gareth Bale. United always had great wide players like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, so I thought he’d fit in. We made the biggest offer to Tottenham and the player, we had a helicopter waiting for him, but his heart was set on Real Madrid”, as per quotes from Diario AS.

Bale was reportedly a target for EFL League One side Wrexham this summer but he looks set to stay retired.