Levy Gives His Word That Bale Is Staying This Summer

Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that Daniel Levy assured him Gareth Bale will stay at Tottenham this summer despite concrete interest from Real Madrid.

Madrid have been actively pursuing Bale both privately and publically on the back of a brilliant season for the winger in which he took out PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year honours.

Tottenham would be loathe to lose their top star, who kept them in the fight for a top four finish in the second half of the season. Though the side missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the season, they will be hoping that Bale stays on board for the long term despite interest from some of the world's top clubs.

And Villas-Boas has now broken his silence on the matter, telling Spanish publication Marca: "The chairman [Levy] has pledged that Bale isn't leaving the club."

Madrid are believed to be preparing a bid of up to £100m for Bale's signature, which would smash their previous transfer record of purchasing Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million in 2009.

But the Wales international has a contract with Tottenham until 2016 and Levy has shown how strong he can be in the face of players wanting a move against the club's will. Once again, all the cards look to be in his hands over the deal.

Madrid legend and advisor Zinedine Zidane has been open about his admiration of the star who scored 27 times across the board last season.

Zidane said of Bale last week: "I think Real Madrid have made their admiration of Gareth Bale very clear - and it has been made clear that we would not be put off by the cost of the player.

"But if Gareth feels now is the time to move then he has to have a private discussion with his club and express that he wants to leave."