Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits defeat in pursuit of Real Madrid and Wales winger Gareth Bale
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has admitted defeat in his pursuit of Gareth Bale.
Speaking after watching his team lose 2-1 to Los Blancos in the Super Cup in Macedonia, Mourinho said it was "game over" with regards to any prospective transfer of Bale to Old Trafford.
When he was asked by BT Sport if Bale's appearance in the line-up meant anything tonight, Mourinho responded: "I think so.
"I think clearly the club want him, the manager wants him, and he wants the club.
"So for me, it's game over, even before it started.
But game over clearly as I think now everybody knows he wants to stay."
Bale was dangerous in the Super Cup final but failed to get on the scoresheet.
And unsurprisingly after the final whistle, he was quizzed on live TV about a potential move away from the Champions League winners.
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He said: "I am just concentrating on my football. I am not listening to anything, I don't read anything, obviously I get told bits and bobs.
"I am enjoying my football here, I am playing as much as I can and I'm winning trophies so that's all I am concentrating on.
"I haven't had any conversations (with Madrid), I am just concentrating on my football, I'm trying to get my fitness up as much as I can after pretty much not playing regularly for eight or nine months.
"It is great to keep adding to the collection, it was a very difficult game but we got the job done and we've got another trophy and we move on."