Transfer news: Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp reveals Gareth Bale 'really wants to go' to Real Madrid

Redknapp, who managed Bale for four seasons at White Hart Lane, says it will be difficult for the Welshman to remain at Spurs

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said it would be very hard for Gareth Bale to remain at Spurs following the intense speculation that he wants a move to Real Madrid.

Redknapp was sacked last summer after he missed out on the Champions League, and he is preparing for life in the Championship with current club Queens Park Rangers after he was unable to save them from relegation having taken over the role in November last year.

Bale has been reported to have asked Spurs’ chairman Daniel Levy for a move to Spain, but has stopped short of handing in a transfer request to force through a transfer.

Despite this, the 66-year-old feels it will be near-impossible for the Welshman to remain at the club after asking to leave.

"I think it'll be difficult for him not to go now. I think he wants to go if we're truthful," Redknapp told BBC Wales.

"He doesn't want to say it, but I hear from different sources that he really wants to go now."

Redknapp managed Bale between 2008 and 2012, overseeing his rise to the top having announced his arrival on the big stage in Spurs’ 2010/11 Champions League campaign.

The current QPR boss claims that every young footballer still dreams of playing for Real Madrid, and that the prestige of playing for the “special” club is a big factor for anyone that is linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"When you're a kid and you start playing football you dream about playing for Real Madrid," Redknapp expressed.

"When I was a kid I saw that great team of Ferenc Puskas, Francisco Ento, Alfredo Di Stefano.

"Real Madrid is a special club. The chance to run out at the Bernabeu only comes once in a lifetime, as [former France and Real midfielder Zinedine] Zidane said the other day, you can't not take it."

Redknapp had no worries about whether Bale would succeed in La Liga though.

"He is behind Messi and Ronaldo in terms of being the best player in the world," Redknapp said.

"He is at a good club but the opportunity to play for Real Madrid does not come along too often. He has probably dreamt about that since he was a little boy.

"It seems they have offered fantastic money so it could happen, but I don't know. I wouldn't be sure.

"If he goes there, he will be a great success there. I am sure of that."

"He has been playing like that for three or four years," he said. "I think it was three years ago that he was Player of the Year the first time.

"He has been consistent over about a period of about four seasons so he has proved he can do it regularly, every year.

"He has got everything, he can do the whole lot - he can dribble, he can shoot with both feet, can head it, run all day, run at speed. There is nothing he can't do. He is an amazing player."

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed reports in both England and Spain that a deal is agreed between the two clubs after he told the media in the United States that talks remain on-going.

The Italian was speaking after his side won their International Champions Cup pre-season match against LA Galaxy 3-1, with goals from Angel Di Maria and a Karim Benzema double securing the victory.