Gareth Bale rules out move to Manchester United and insists he is happy to remain at Real Madrid after Champions League triumph

  • Real Madrid won the Champions League for the 12th time on Saturday night
  • Madrid beat Italian champions Juventus 4-1 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
  • Wales star Gareth Bale came on as a second-half substitute in his home city
  • Zinedine Zidane has refused to offer assurances over Bale's future at Madrid 
  • Bale, however, insists he is happy in Spain and has ruled out a return to England 

Gareth Bale has ruled out a move back to the Premier League from Real Madrid this summer.

Bale picked up his third Champions League winner's medal in four incredible seasons after coming on as a late substitute in Real's 4-1 demolition of Juventus in his home city of Cardiff on Saturday night.

After the game Real coach Zinedine Zidane refused to offer assurances about Bale's future, saying only that it would be decided later in the off-season.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has ruled out a summer move back to the Premier League

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has ruled out a summer move back to the Premier League

But asked directly if there was any hope for clubs like Manchester United who want to bring him back to England, Bale said: 'I am happy here at Madrid. We are winning trophies and I am happy.'


Bale was also asked if he saw his future at the club he joined from Tottenham in 2013.

The 27-year-old said: 'Yes. I have signed a long term contract at Madrid. My family is happy and I am happy so we will continue what we are doing.' 

Bale won the Champions League for the third time with Madrid in Cardiff on Saturday night

Bale won the Champions League for the third time with Madrid in Cardiff on Saturday night

Bale has only recently recovered from ankle surgery and has not started a game for Real since late April. It was therefore not a surprise to see him on the bench against Juventus as Zidane gave a starting spot to the Spaniard Isco.

On Sunday Bale tweeted the message: 'I am just getting started' from his personal social media account.

But Zidane's response when asked about Bale's future was strange, given that the Welshman only signed a new deal in Spain last October and is contracted to Real until 2022.

The Real coach said: 'What's important is that he was with us. It was very important for him to reach this final.

'I think I was correct to pick the team that started the game and he played a little while so I'm really happy for him.

'On top of that, he's playing here at home. 'As for the rest, what we're going to do now is enjoy what we've achieved and the rest we'll see for next year.

Bale was used as a second-half substitute after only recently returning from ankle surgery

Bale was used as a second-half substitute after only recently returning from ankle surgery

'But first I want to enjoy it.' 

Bale won a Champions League with Real in his first season and repeated the feat last year. Now he is part of the only team to win back-to-back competitions in the modern era after two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one each from Casemiro and Marco Asensio saw them home against Juventus.

'It was a very special occasion for me personally,' said Bale. 'It was an incredible feeling to lift that trophy here.

'I think it adds to the history of this club.

The Wales international insists he wants to remain with the 12-time European champions

The Wales international insists he wants to remain with the 12-time European champions

'This club is the biggest in Champions League history ever and now we have even more. It's great to be a part of and we want to make more.

'I only found out I wasn't going to start just before the game, but I always knew really because I'd only been training for five days with the team and I was really lucky to be involved, to be honest.

'I've worked double sessions for three, four weeks to get myself ready for this, to get myself fit, recover from the surgery - which still has a little more healing to do – but I will be able to rest in the summer, do some more rehab and then come next season stronger.

'It's been a tough year with a lot of football and the injuries, but the main thing for me is to get my ankle sorted and give it that rest it needs.

'I came back too early from the surgery. But I still have finished the season happy, it's a great finish with another trophy.' 

However, Zinedine Zidane has refused to offer assurances over Bale's future at Madrid

However, Zinedine Zidane has refused to offer assurances over Bale's future at Madrid

Bale has been coveted by United for a long time and the Premier League club want to be at the front of the queue if Real decided to cash in on one of their star names.

But Bale himself believes he is part of a special team at the Bernabeu and clearly wants more. 

'It's three [Champions League] trophies in four years, not many people can say that,' he said. 'It's great to be doing that and I want it to continue.

'There's always a first for everything. It's why you're a footballer, it's the reason I came here.

'We have to be in that category [of greatness]. All we can keep doing is keep working hard and hopefully there will be more to come.

The 27-year-old has been coveted by Manchester United for a number of seasons

The 27-year-old has been coveted by Manchester United for a number of seasons

'I think we can get better. We are still quite young as a whole team and we have a great squad.

'We haven't just got a great eleven, we have a great squad so if any injuries come along there are other people who can do a job.

'We are strong at the moment. We are confident and the plan is to win more.' 

One of Bale's team-mates at Real, Alvaro Morata has hinted at a move away from the club.

The Spanish striker only joined Real from Juventus last summer but is frustrated at having started only 14 La Liga games. On Saturday the 24-year-old was sent on as an 89th substitute and is another player interesting United.

He said after Saturday's final: 'I want to play. There is a World Cup next year.'