Spurs boss expecting Bale departure.
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that Gareth Bale will be joining Real Madrid, but he is still not certain when the move will go through, according to Sky Sports.
The Welsh winger had a phenomenal season for Spurs last year, scoring 21 Premier League goals and claiming the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards, but his time at White Hart Lane has looked certain to be coming to an end all summer with strong interest from the Spanish giants.
The 24-year-old is expected to become the most expensive player of all time if he moves to the Bernabeu, with Real said to be willing to pay over £86million to add him to their star-studded squad.
Villas-Boas has been understandably keen to keep Bale, but he now accepts that a move will go through before the close of the summer transfer window.
“I’m not sure how long it is going to take,” the Portuguese coach admitted. “It can happen very, very soon, it could go to the last day (of the transfer window), it could happen in the next two days.”
The former Chelsea manager also had his say on rumours that Bale had not shown up to Tottenham training, and hinted that disciplinary action could be taken against the player for this behaviour.
He added: “He is involved in a big transfer move to Real Madrid and in the end if it happens, we wish him all the best – what he left here was great memories. But the fact that he hasn’t turned up is not the correct behaviour.
“That is the position they (Bale and his representatives) chose to take and it’s up to the club to decide if it’s a fineable offence.”
Spurs have been planning for Bale’s departure all summer, and have done well to bring in the likes of Roberto Soldado and Paulinho to replace him, with the possibility of the likes of Erik Lamela and Hulk to follow.