'Manchester United offered more money to buy me, and offered a player. Daniel Levy didn't want to sell me to a rival, but my heart was set anyway' Gareth Bale explains why proposed Manchester United transfer never happened

Gareth Bale has acknowledged he had the option to join Manchester United back in 2013 - but that a combination of listening to his heart and a gentleman's agreement with then-Spurs chairman Daniel Levy meant he joined Real Madrid instead.

The Welsh icon had been the subject of transfer speculation throughout that summer before ultimately making the move to the Bernabeu for a world record €100.8m (£85.1m) transfer fee late in the window.

At the time, Manchester United were hoping to rebuild for a new era following the departure of the enormously successful and long-serving Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gareth Bale's 'gentleman's agreement' with Daniel Levy put kibosh on Manchester United move

Signing a player of Bale's ability from Tottenham would have been a major coup for United, who instead signed Marouane Fellaini from Everton, followed by Juan Mata from Chelsea in the January transfer window.

Bale admits that United never really had any chance of securing his signature at the time, however.

Speaking on Stick to Football, Bale said: "United and Madrid were the two. I spoke with David Moyes - I didn't speak to Ed Woodward, maybe my agent did, I don't know.

"But my heart was set on Madrid anyway. I had something in place with Daniel Levy, more of a gentleman's agreement.

"He didn't want to sell me to a rival, but if a team did come in from Spain, Italy, Germany, wherever it may be...I could potentially go if we didn't qualify for the Champions League, which we didn't.

"He made it very tough, like he does, but he stayed true to his word.

"I didn't go down the wages route with United. It didn't go that far. They offered more money to buy me and [another] player, but it didn't really get any legs to be honest. So again, I chose wrong!

"But I had my heart set on it [going to Real Madrid], so once I spoke to them and they reserved the number 11, I spoke with numerous people at the club

"I knew Modric who went there the year before, which obviously helped me, knowing I've at least got someone I can be with, because when you go to a new club it's 'who's your mates?'.

"He was great for me and he was the player I played with most in my career, which is not bad."