Clause in Real Madrid deal gives Spurs chance to re-sign Bale
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Daniel Levy’s reputation as a steely negotiator has been long held. If any was needed, further proof of his cast iron boardroom skills emerged in a recently leaked document detailing the terms of Tottenham’s sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.
In a savvy move, the Spurs chairman added a clause to the Welshman’s deal that gives the Lilywhites the upper hand over their Premier League rivals.
The clause states that should any other top-flight club make an offer for the former Southampton youth, Los Blancos must notify Spurs. The White Hart Lane outfit will then have 72 hours to match that offer, which would then have to be accepted over the rival club’s bid.
With rumours linking Manchester United to Bale constantly filling the gossip pages, the chances that Levy’s clause gets triggered looks high.
Of course, if the Red Devils’ bid proves to be too costly for Levy’s taste, then the Old Trafford club could still land their man. But seeing as Deloitte named the north Londoners as the 12th richest club in the world in their recently published Football Money League, Spurs could well welcome back their former star.
The clause expires in 2019, by which time Bale would be 29, and wouldn’t be activated if any club outside the Premier League launches a bid for Welshman.
As Madrid have been banned from signing any players for a year for breaching FIFA transfer rules on players under the age of 18, they will be extremely wary of losing any of their star men without being able to replace them.
However, the situation will be taken out of their hands should they receive a bid for Bale and Spurs decide to match it.
Elsewhere in the deal, Levy also managed to have the remaining fees owed to Madrid for the purchase of Rafael van der Vaart wiped out.
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