Gareth Bale will not feature in Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the new Premier League season, manager Andre Villas-Boas said Thursday amid ongoing speculation linking the winger with a world record move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old missed Wales’s goalless friendly international against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday with a foot injury and Villas-Boas said the problem would keep Bale out of Spurs’ opening Premier League match away to newly-promoted Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Asked if Bale would play at Selhurst Park, Villas-Boas said: “No, because he’s been out injured for most of pre-season.
“He was involved in the games against Brentford and Swindon but not any others, for different reasons; he pulled a muscle in his gluteus that prevented him from being involved for two weeks and he’s been complaining of pain in the foot.
“I think the most natural thing is to see him not involved against Palace,” the Portuguese added.
Throughout pre-season Bale has been reportedly on the brink of a move to the nine-times European champions for a fee that could eclipse the STG80 million ($A136.83 million) that Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
But with a deal yet to be concluded, Bale’s future could remain uncertain until the transfer window closes on September 2.