Ferguson reveals frustration over Bale

United wanted to sign Bale as cover for Patrice Evra.

Yet Saints opted not to do business, with the Wales international switching instead to Tottenham.

Bale has gone on to become a major Premier League force, having moved out of defence into a forward position, and has scooped both major footballer of the year prizes at the expense of United striker Robin van Persie.

There have been hints Ferguson would make a move for Bale in the summer if Tottenham miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League.

Such a transfer would cost United a sizeable sum, in all probability smashing their £30.75 million transfer record when Dimitar Berbatov moved north from Tottenham in 2008.

And it all could have been avoided if Southampton had just returned that call.

“We were disappointed in Southampton because we were first there but they never came back to us,” said Ferguson.

“He was a left-back when we tried to sign him from Southampton.

“He reminds me a bit of when we signed Lee Sharpe. He was a six foot, gangly slim boy but all of a sudden he was built like a light-heavyweight American boxer.

“Bale is the same given the way he has developed physically in the last two years. He has matured very well.”

Confirmation of van Persie being named April’s Barclays player of the month for his six goals in five games underlines how unlucky the 29-year-old was to miss out on the prestigious Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association honours.

However, as the Dutchman’s 10-match barren streak coincided with Bale’s best form of the campaign, and voting for those individual prizes, Ferguson has few complaints.

“You can’t dispute it,” he said.

“Some of the goals Bale has scored this year have been fantastic.

“Robin is a little bit unlucky in that he hit a quiet spell and didn’t score at a time Bale was bashing them in from all sorts of distances.”

Along with Robert Lewandowski and Radamel Falcao, Bale is one of the names most regularly mentioned as potential Ferguson transfer targets this summer.

However, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who will replace David Gill as chief executive in the summer, said this week he did not envisage a “major retooling” of Ferguson’s squad given the manner in which they have claimed a record 20th championship.

Ferguson agrees a significant revamp is not needed but he is confident the Glazer family will meet his requirements.

“We have fantastic strength in depth,” he said.

“That’s the area where we don’t want to confuse ourselves because you end up with too many players and having to try to keep them all happy. It’s happened a few times this season.

“But any time we’ve asked for money off the owners they have delivered.”

Ferguson, meanwhile, admits he cannot wait to lock horns with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho again.

The Manchester United boss insists he has no idea whether Mourinho is heading back to Chelsea, who United host tomorrow.

But if the charismatic coach does return to the club he led to successive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, it is a competition Ferguson would relish.

“Absolutely,” said the Scot. “It will get me angry again.

“I have no idea what Jose is doing but going back is a big attraction for him.”

Whilst Ferguson’s meetings with Mourinho have always been keenly fought, most recently in this season’s Champions League, a mutual respect is obvious.

The same cannot be said of Ferguson’s feelings for Rafael Benitez, who was yesterday named Barclays Manager of the Month for April, just a fortnight before he leaves Stamford Bridge.

Even deserved praise for the former Liverpool boss came with a remark about what reaching the Europa League final meant to him.

“He is very concerned about his CV,” said Ferguson.

“He refers to it quite a lot.

“But you can’t dispute the fact he has done a good job in the last few weeks.

“The key to it is that the fans have settled down a little bit.

“They have left him alone and he has got on with managing his job.”