Zidane urges Bale to grab 'once-in-a-lifetime chance' but Spurs forward refuses to demand £85m move to Madrid

Gareth Bale's future is in turmoil after it emerged the forward is reluctant to risk his relationship with Tottenham fans by handing in a transfer request.
Bale has his heart set on a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid and told chairman Daniel Levy he wants to leave during crisis talks in Hong Kong at the Barclays Asia Trophy last weekend.
Now Real sporting director Zinedine Zidane has tried to hurry things along, insisting a move to Madrid is an opportunity that may only come up once in a player's career.

Touch down: Gareth Bale arrives at Heathrow Airport from Hong Kong in the early hours

Nothing to smile about: Bale, who may be subject of a world record £85m bid from Real Madrid, clearly has a lot on his mind on his return to London

On his way? Gareth bale is set for talks with Spurs over a world record £85million move to Real Madrid

Crunch talks: Bale (left) will discuss his future with agent Jonathan Barnett (right) and Daniel Levy (far right) and the Tottenham chairman is likely to bow to the player's requests if the sky-high price is met by Real Madrid

New boss? New Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants Bale as his first marquee signing at the Bernabeu

TOP FIVE TRANSFER FEES

 1 Cristiano Ronaldo, £80million from Manchester United to Real Madrid (2009)

2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, £56.5m from Inter Milan to Barcelona (2009)

3 Kaka, £56m AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009)

4 Edinson Cavani, £55m from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain (2013)

5 Radamel Falcao, £53m from Atletico Madrid to Monaco (2013)

Bale could accelerate the move with a formal, written transfer request but the £85million target knows it could ruin his relationship with fans at White Hart Lane.

The PFA player of the year and FWA footballer of the year wants them to understand the reasons behind his desire to join the world's biggest football club.

Spurs have been stunned by the change in Bale, 24, since Real stepped up their pursuit of the most wanted man in football last week.

Only last week they were convinced a new, improved contract offer and his 'special relationship' with head coach Andre Villas-Boas could keep him at the club.

Now Zidane, sporting director at the Bernabeu, has weighed in.

Join us: Zinedine Zidane (right), with Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, would love to see Bale in a Madrid shirt

Speaking in Los Angeles where Real are on pre-season duty, he said: 'It is not unusual when a player knows that Real Madrid are interested in them that they get excited. There is nothing more prestigious for a player to wear the white of Real Madrid.

'If he has expressed a desire to join Madrid then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player's lifetime - and it is understandable that Gareth doesn't want to miss out on it.'

He added: 'This is modern football - you have to pay to get the best players in Europe. Last season Gareth was on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi. The best players can have not so great games - but change a game with a moment of brilliance. Those are the sort of players that win you Champions League's and League titles.

'He is already one of the finest player in Europe and he has everything needed to become the best player in the world. It is a bit of a cliche - but it is true you become a better player playing with better players.'

Levy will reluctantly bow to Bale’s desire to leave Tottenham if Real Madrid offer a world record fee — plus a player.

The chairman has maintained throughout the summer that his star asset will not be sold — and he still wants to keep him — but recognises the pursuit is relentless.

Touchline: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to keep hold of his key man

Dynamic duo: Bale thrived under Villas-Boas' management at White Hart Lane last season

IS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SLIPPING?

If Bale goes, the Premier League loses one of its star names, while these five have swerved England this summer...

Edinson Cavani £55m
Chose Napoli despite strong interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.

Radamel Falcao £53m
Opted for Monaco with Chelsea keen admirers, snubbing the Premier League for the French top flight.

Gonzalo Higuain £32m
Was a key target for Arsene Wenger and was also linked to Liverpool in a swap deal for Luis Suarez but decided to join Napoli instead.

Thiago Alcantara £22m
Wanted by David Moyes to strengthen central midfield, a weak area, at Manchester United but followed former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich.

Neymar £50m
The most sought-after player in the world went to Barcelona without giving the Premier League a second glance.
Sam Cunningham

Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis, who is Tottenham’s largest shareholder, will have the ultimate say if, as expected, Real follow their public interest with a formal offer.
Levy, who flew back from the Far East to London on Sunday to discuss Bale’s future with club officials, will make a series of demands if Real can come up with the cash.

He wants the money up front and there is still a possibility he will demand a Madrid player in addition to a world record fee.

The Spanish giants paid Manchester United £80m straight up when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

But Real want to structure the Bale deal so that they pay a sizeable chunk up front, and stagger the rest of the fee over the course of his contract.

Portugal defender Fabio Coentrao, who kept Brazilian left back Marcelo out of the team at Real Madrid, and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria are being offered as part of the package.

Bale has been given two days off along with the rest of the Spurs squad after returning from Hong Kong at 5am yesterday.

But the Wales star, who scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season, wants his future resolved this week.

Bale has missed the majority of Tottenham’s pre-season programme with a gluteal injury, but Villas-Boas claims he will be fit to train this week.

He will return to training on Wednesday as Spurs prepare for their friendly against Claudio Ranieri’s Monaco on Saturday.

Real Madrid are travelling to America this week for the 2013 International Challenge Cup, and time is running out to get the deal done before the start of the season.

Tottenham’s Premier League campaign kicks off at Crystal Palace on August 18 and Madrid will start their campaign against Real Betis on the same weekend.

World record: Any deal for Bale would eclipse the £80m fee Real paid for star man Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 

Real’s pursuit of Bale is so far advanced that they have already concluded background checks on the financial aspects of a deal, notably contractual obligations between Tottenham and Bale’s first club Southampton.

When Spurs signed Bale, they agreed to a 15 per cent sell-on clause. Although that was bought out by Spurs for £1.5m during a financial crisis at St Mary’s in 2007, FIFA solidarity clauses add to the complexity of their proposed bid.

Any club developing homegrown players between the age of 12 and 23 are entitled to up to five per cent of the transfer fee if the player subsequently moves to another team. Because Bale was on Southampton’s books between the ages of 12 and 17, they will be entitled to a mini windfall on a pro-rata basis of around £2m.

Bale is on around £80,000 a week at the moment and if he agrees an improved contract that will burst through their famous pay ceiling, Spurs will justify it because of his commercial importance to the club.

Holding his hands up: Bale will only consider moving to Real Madrid at this stage, not Manchester United

The player is plastered all over promotional material and the club will use that to justify a contract offer in excess of £150,000 a week.

Bale played in Tottenham’s pre-season opener at Swindon and scored in the 1-1 draw but was said to be injured when he missed the draw at Colchester a few days before they left for Hong Kong.

Although many suspect the gluteal injury that kept him on the sidelines was ‘diplomatic’, it is understood the problem is genuine. Bale was frustrated as he travelled halfway around the world with his team and wanted to play in both tune-up games during their stay.

Spurs made an improved bid of £23m for Valencia forward Roberto Soldado over the weekend, with technical director Franco Baldini attempting to clinch the deal. Spurs were offered the 28-year-old for £15m in January but overlooked a player who went on to score 24 goals in La Liga. Soldado, who is rated at £26m, has 11 caps for Spain, scoring six goals.

On his way: The Spanish media are clearly excited by the potential arrival of the Welsh winger, with sports paper AS even crediting 'Daily Mail' reports on their front page

Development: Southampton are set to recieve some of Bale's transfer fee for bringing him through

Poster boy: Bale is a valuable marketing tool for Spurs, with this poster in Times Square, New York