Jose Mourinho has admitted he will go after Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale if he became available.

Bale joined Madrid in a then world record fee of £85m in 2013, having been linked with a move to Manchester United before. Mourinho has previously stated that signing Bale would be “mission impossible”, but there have been various rumours about the Welshman leaving the club, and if Kylian Mbappe joins Madrid as expected, then it may leave the door open for Bale to leave Los Blancos.

Manchester United meet Madrid tonight in the UEFA Super Cup clash, and Mourinho believes that if Bale plays a part in the game then he will stay at the Bernabeu.

“If he plays, it is the clearest signal that he is staying there,” said Jose.

“If he is playing tomorrow, it is because he is in the coach’s plans and in the club’s plans and because he also has that ambition to continue in Real Madrid.”

“So I haven’t even thought of the possibility of signing him on our team.”

“If he’s not in the club’s plans, if what you are writing right now is true – I am not sure whether it is or not – that the arrival of another player (would) perhaps (mean) Gareth would be on his way out.”

“If he is on his way out of Real Madrid, well, I’ll try to be waiting for him on the other side and try to fight with other coaches that would also like to have him on his team.”

“But I think that if he plays tomorrow, it is probably the best confirmation that they’ll keep counting on him during the season.”
[Quotes via Sky Sports]