Gareth Bale has one word for those questioning why he didn’t leave Real Madrid for Manchester United in the summer: Trophies.
The Welsh star, 28, has seen his place at the Santiago Bernabeu come under increasing threat over the last few months, with both Isco and Marco Asensio vying for his place in the European champions attack.
Bale’s season has made something of a slow start, and he came in for criticism after Los Blancos’ weekend draw with Levante.
But the 28-year-old is a key part of a Madrid side looking to make it three Champions League triumphs in a row, beginning their quest against Anderlecht on Wednesday night.
The Welsh international could have been wearing red at club level and kicking off his European campaign on Tuesday against Basel, with Jose Mourinho once more keen on taking Bale to United.
But Bale insists that, while Neymar left Barcelona to become the face of Paris Saint-Germain, he was never close to leaving Madrid to become the main star at Old Trafford
"Well there's an argument for that," he told the Daily Mail, when asked whether he could have left Madrid’s Galacticos to become the No.1 man in Manchester.
“But I think the main thing, when you look back on your career, is that you look at your trophies. In the end that's probably the most important thing.”
Bale isn’t the only Tottenham player eyeing a fourth European Cup since joining Real Madrid, with Luka Modric looking to once more rule Europe also.
And Bale has revealed that the Croatian playmaker was a major factor behind his own move from Spurs to Spain.
"We played very well together at Tottenham,” added Bale. Him being here was a reason why I came to Madrid. I knew what a good player he was.
"I think it helped me settle in a lot quicker. Having someone to help you is massive especially with such a big move abroad."