Mourinho Admits Defeat In Pursuit Of Gareth Bale
Written 3 months ago by Will O'Callaghan
Gareth Bale is ignoring speculation regarding his Real Madrid future and concentrating on winning more trophies after his side’s Super Cup success against Manchester United.
The Wales international has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, with United boss Jose Mourinho saying he would try and sign Bale if he was not in Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI in Skopje.
But Bale was named in the side and played 74 minutes as goals from Casemiro and Isco gave Madrid a 2-1 win and a third Super Cup success in four years.
now make United to sign Bale before the current transfer window closes, with Chelsea out to and Man City .
Bale said on BT Sport 2: “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.”
Madrid were the better side for the opening hour and Casemiro’s 24th-minute opener was followed by Isco’s second after 52 minutes.
Romelu Lukaku’s 62nd-minute goal gave United hope and they came close to forcing extra-time but could not find a leveller. Bale said his side were worthy winners.
He added: “We played well, we controlled the game very well. It helps that we have been training in 38 degree heat back in Madrid. I thought we played very well, especially the first 60 minutes and we controlled the game and deserved to win. We want to keep winning as much as we can. We will keep working to win.”
Mourinho now accepts it is “game over” in his pursuit of Bale, who is 4/11 to remain a Real Madrid player after the deadline.
The Portuguese said: “Clearly the club wants him, the manager wants him and he wants the club, so for me it’s game over. Even before it started, but it’s game over clearly because everybody knows he is going to stay.”
