Zidane's comments give United fresh hope in chase for Bale

Gareth Bale. Photo: Getty Images

James Ducker in Nashville
© Telegraph Media Group Limited

Manchester United are on red alert after being given fresh encouragement in their long-standing pursuit of Gareth Bale.

United have coveted Bale for years, having first tried to sign him in 2007 before he joined Spurs and then failing with a £103m bid to hijack his move to Real four years ago.

And they could be about to make a fresh move for the Welsh wizard after Real coach Zinedine Zidane admitted he could not guarantee that the 28-year-old will remain at the Bernabeu - especially if Real sign France striker Kylian Mbappe from Monaco in a potential world record £162m deal.

Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic seems likely to join United from Chelsea but a high-quality winger is Jose Mourinho's priority.

Bale would provide an injection of star quality that the Portuguese has admitted his team lack and Zidane's remarks could embolden United.

Asked about the prospect of one of his leading players leaving this summer, Zidane could offer no guarantees. "I hope they all stay for this season," the Real coach said.

"I hope everyone remains. I want everyone who is here now to stay, but anything can happen right up until August 31."

Pressed on the subject of Mbappe and the ramifications that could have for the likes of Bale, Zidane added: "I'm the coach, you need to speak with someone else about whether or not it's worth it. Nothing has happened until now, and we have the squad we have."

United lost 1-0 to Barcelona courtesy of Neymar's first-half goal at FedEx Field in Washington DC in the early hours of yesterday morning.

And despite Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde claiming United can win the Champions League next season and that he would not want to face them in the competition, Mourinho admitted his team are not at the level of the Catalan giants or Real.

Mourinho said that, with the exception of midfielder Paul Pogba, United did not have the players to rival the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez at Barcelona or Ronaldo and Bale at Real, whom United beat on penalties in Santa Clara last Sunday when Mourinho embraced Bale warmly.

And while the United manager said such talents can be countered by a "certain tactical organisation", he claimed their superior quality often wins out.

"I think in this moment the best players are at these two clubs (Barcelona and Real) and you have to accept that as a reality but for us to play against both in pre-season without any kind of pressure, or being worried about the result, was very good for us," Mourinho said.

"There is only one Messi and one Neymar, one Suarez, Iniesta, Pique, Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Toni Kroos. There is only one (of each) so they can be playing for only one club, not two.

"You can work very hard tactically to improve your players but there are players that are special and there is nothing you can do. You try to compensate for the difference in quality."

"But I have to say one of my players today, Paul Pogba, showed that he belongs to that level." (© Daily Telegraph, London)