AVB irked as Bale on verge of Real move

AN agitated Andre Villas-Boas effectively confirmed Gareth Bale’s transfer to Real Madrid is imminent, while also expressing disappointment with the player’s conduct in his attempts to force an exit.

The 24-year-old winger refused to turn up for training on Tuesday and yesterday, with the Tottenham Hotspur manager stating it was not “correct behaviour”. Villas-Boas said it was now up to Spurs as to whether to fine Bale, but confirmed the only remaining issues in his departure were the final details.

The Portuguese coach stated that the fee would likely be a “world record”, but sources in Madrid have indicated that political concerns might yet make it less than the €96m paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. The Real hierarchy are understood to be pushing for the deal to be closed today, having initially planned for all of August to have it confirmed last week, but Villas-Boas stated it could happen any time between “the next two days” and right up to the end of the window.