AVB: Bale is staying at Spurs

Posted Friday, May 03, 2013 by The Sun

GARETH BALE is ready to stay at Spurs next season — even if they do not reach the Champions League.

AWARDS GALORE ... Gareth Bale

The Welsh star was yesterday crowned Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year to add to his PFA double.

And boss Andre Villas-Boas said: “The player is here to remain, independent of Champions League qualification being achieved or not.

“It’s impossible to predict but this is the assurance I have had from the club.

“We understand that the more awards, the more recognition the player will have, the more media attention. But the club has to move forward by holding on to its best players and Gareth.”

Villas-Boas previously said Bale would stay if Spurs — two points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal — qualify for Europe’s premier competition.

But AVB now insists his future is not connected to where they finish. Real Madrid ambassador Zinedine Zidane this week claimed going higher than £60million for Bale would not be a problem.

Villas-Boas added: “It’s great for a player of Zidane’s dimension to speak about Gareth.

“Whatever price tag the player has doesn’t matter to us because he’s our player.