José Mourinho confirms that he wants Gareth Bale

José “I don’t talk about other clubs’ players” Mourinho has talked about another club’s player and confirmed his interest in signing Gareth Bale for Manchester United. Ahead of United’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Bale’s current employers Real Madrid, Mourinho slid in the Welshman’s DMs IRL. Asked about his interest in acquiring Bale, Mourinho admitted that he wants to sign the attacker, but only if he was available and willing to move.

“Well if he’s playing tomorrow, no. It’s because he’s in the coach’s plans and because he also has that motivation to continue at Real.

“If he is not in the club’s plans, that with the arrival of another player would mean he was on his way out, I will try to be waiting for him on the other side and fight with other coaches that would want him. But if he plays tomorrow, that is the best confirmation he is wanted by the team.”

Mourinho may well be nudging Bale to read the writing on the wall with regards to Madrid’s interest in Kylian Mbappé and push for a move to Manchester. Combined with last week’s reports that Madrid will only sign Mbappé if Bale leaves to make room, there appears to be interest on both sides to make this deal happen.

It also may be some mind games from Mourinho. By insinuating that Bale’s role in Tuesday’s game will be indicative of how valued he is at Madrid, Mourinho may have given Zinedine Zidane an extra headache. Ideally, the Madrid manager would have been able to leave Bale on the bench for fitness or tactical reasons, but Mourinho’s comments may leave the Frenchman worrying about the head of one of his star players being turned.