The 34-year-old resigned in January with a trophy cupboard full, but he could have won more had he chosen to join Manchester United in 2007 as opposed to Tottenham.
In 2007, Gareth Bale turned down a transfer to Manchester United because he desired a guarantee of consistent playing time.
Bale, who was 17 years old at the time, had a good 2006–2007 season as a left-back making his Championship debut with Southampton. The adolescent showed signs of his future aggressive instincts by scoring five goals in the second division.
Top Premier League clubs were interested in Bale as a result of his form, and United used fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs to try and entice Bale to Old Trafford. He ultimately agreed to a £10 million deal to join Tottenham, and he recently outlined the reasons for this.
Bale stated, “I chose Tottenham over Manchester United. “At the time, United was the most successful team in the Premier League, taking home titles and having the best coach and players.
“When I was playing for Southampton, the simple choice would have been to transfer to United, the largest club in England. I chose to play football despite the fact that you always want to be at the most prestigious clubs.
Many players at that age would be looking for money and wishing to join a bigger team. I chose Tottenham because continuing to play football was crucial for my growth.
After failing to be on the winning squad in each of his first 24 games, including his competitive debut, a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford, the youngster was labeled a bad luck charm and life at Spurs proved difficult at initially. The Welshman was only pushed up to left-midfield for the 2009–2010 season due to a spate of injuries.
Bale finished his final three seasons in north London with 127 games and 49 goals, which earned him a lucrative transfer to Real Madrid, where he won numerous awards. The 34-year-old explosive winger announced his retirement in January.
