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Fergie: I bid for Bale
Manchester United, 12:54, January 15, 2011 , | 1 Comment
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he tried to lure Gareth Bale to Old Trafford when he was a teenager.
Bale, who has been one of Tottenham's star players this season, will line up against Manchester United when the two sides meet at White Hart Lane tomorrow.
The Scot has told of how when he was a 16 or 17-year-old Southampton player, he tried to bring the young Welshman to Manchester. However, Tottenham got in there first, due to being alerted to his situation after United's bid was rejected - something which Ferguson is likely to be ruing, due to the winger's phenomenal rise to prominence, the highlight of an excellent season being a hat-trick in the San Siro against current Champions League holders, Inter Milan.
"Bale has made the best contribution without a doubt," said Ferguson.
"Eleven goals for a wide player is a really good return."
However, the 69-year-old is wary of Spurs' other threats, in particular Rafael van der Vaart - who has nine goals and five assists in 15 Premier League appearances - Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon.
"Van der Vaart has made a contribution goals-wise," said Ferguson.
"He has good ability on the ball, so he has been a good signing and Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon are also dangerous."
On Sunday Manchester United face the North London side away. They will welcome back Wayne Rooney (ankle) and Nemanja Vidic, who both missed the FA Cup victory over Liverpool. Edwin van der Sar is also been considered, after missing the last three games with flu. Spurs expect Bale (back) to be fit and Younes Kaboul (ban) returns.
Here are some betting tips from Betfair's tipsters:
should be a cracker of a game and really there is nothing in it between any of the top five or six teams except the depth of squads and as long as you close players down spurs should win this one.If they stand back and let united dictate then it will most likely go the other way this is a real chance for spurs to show just how good we are and thanks be, bale feels at home in a spurs shirt and lets hope it stays that way for a long long time !!!!. It's a team game and lets hope we have a team that will be there with a shout of bringing home some glory !