• Premier League

Villas-Boas blasts Ancelotti over Bale

ESPN staff
August 3, 2013
Andre Villas-Boas is hopeful he can keep Gareth Bale at Spurs © PA Photos
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has hit out at Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti for going public with his desire to sign Gareth Bale.

Villas-Boas was again forced to answer questions surrounding Bale's future after his side's 5-2 friendly loss to Monaco.

Bale was not involved in the match after staying behind in London. Madrid are looking to tie up a word-record transfer deal for the 24-year-old, with Ancelotti revealing the La Liga club were in talks to sign the Welshman earlier in the week.

Asked if Ancelotti had acted improperly, Villas-Boas said: "I think so, in my opinion.

"Carlo is a person I appreciate a lot and we have great respect for each other, but bearing in mind this situation they have decided to make it public.

"Normally in situations like this it is scrutinised by the Football Association with lots of care and attention. We have seen lots of people speak about a player that is not theirs and we are due some respect.

"These rumours of an imminent transfer are not true. The only thing we have communicated with Real Madrid is that he is our player and he is not for sale.

"Gareth is a guy I really like. We are talking with Real Madrid because there is respect between the two clubs following the transfer last season of Luka Modric.

"We are building a great team for next season. We envisage the future with Gareth. But we know that in football anything is possible."

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