Transfer news: Tottenham winger Gareth Bale speaks in public for the first time since speculation over a move to Real Madrid surfaced...

But the 24-year-old refuses to comment on the matter after he insists 'now's not the time to talk'

Wales midfielder Gareth Bale will not play against Ireland (PA)

Gareth Bale has spoken for the first time over his uncertain future regarding a transfer to Real Madrid, but refused to comment on the speculation linking him with a world-record transfer.

The Tottenham winger has remained quiet throughout the summer as talks continue between the two clubs over a potential £80m-plus deal, but Bale has expressed his desire to move to the nine-time European champions to Spurs’ chairman Daniel Levy.

Any agreed fee is expected to break the current transfer record, set in 2009 when Real signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Premier League.

Spanish camera crews and photographers arrived in Wales to watch Bale train with the Wales side at their Newport training base yesterday, although the 24-year-old has already been ruled out of tomorrow’s international friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

They later caught Bale in the car park of the team hotel to question him on the move, but he refused to elaborate on the transfer saga of the summer, saying: "I'm really sorry, now's not the time to talk," he said.

Bale has been out for nearly a month with a foot injury that he picked up during Tottenham’s pre-season programme after he had just recovered from a gluteal muscle.

He took part in a short training session away from the rest of the Wales squad yesterday, but Spurs have agreed to let Bale remain with the squad as he looks to step-up his recovery from the injury, and he will be in the stands at the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow to support his international team-mates.

Spurs have already made significant signings in the form of midfielders Paulinho and Nacer Chadli as well as striker Roberto Soldado, and manager Andre Villas-Boas hopes to secure his fourth signing of the summer in Etienne Capoue from Toulouse once the French midfielder returns from international duty.