Bale: No reason for me to leave Tottenham

Gareth Bale insists the thought of leaving Tottenham never crossed his mind this summer.

Barcelona scouted Bale last season and he has also been heavily linked to a number of Europe’s top clubs like Real Madrid.

Many had predicted that the 23-year-old would follow Luka Modric and Harry Redknapp out of White Hart Lane this summer, but the Welshman committed himself to Tottenham by signing a new four-year contract in June.

When asked if he considered leaving the north London club after the end of last season, the winger said: “No. I’ve always been focused on my game, playing football, and I’m enjoying myself here at the moment so there’s no reason to go anywhere.

“I’m enjoying my football, we’ve got a great squad now and hopefully next season we can get Champions League football, where we should be.”

Bale was in an optimistic mood as he reflected on Tottenham’s 3-1 over Reading on Sunday — their first under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Two weeks ago the team were booed off after putting in a drab performance in their 1-1 draw against Norwich but Bale thinks good times lie ahead for Spurs under Villas-Boas.

Bale believes last week’s move to Tottenham’s new state of the art training complex has instilled a new-found sense of belief within the squad that can help the team go on the type of run which pushed them towards the top of the table in the first half of last season.

“We didn’t have a great start last year and we were in a similar position this year,” Bale said. “We went on a run last season and there’s no reason why we can’t do it this year.

“It feels like a new club at the moment with the new training ground. It has excited everybody, and has brought everybody up again.”

New signing Mousa Dembele impressed against the Royals and Bale thinks the 25-year-old is more than capable of filling Modric’s shoes.

“Mousa’s come in and he’s been absolutely fantastic,” Bale said. “He played unbelievable against Reading and he’s been a great addition to the squad. Obviously it’s not nice to see your big players go but I’m sure he can fill his [Modric’s] boots and more.”