Gareth Bale says he was excited for a project last year but it didn't materialise, as Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon confirmed a bid for him was rejected.
Wales international Bale has been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu for some time now after he slipped down the pecking order at Real Madrid.
Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning closed in on signing the winger last July, while a Premier League club also made a £89million bid for him.
Real Madrid president Calderon claims that Real rejected this bid, leaving Bale in limbo.
And now Bale has admitted he was "excited" about a new project in the game, and feels that Real Madrid are making it very hard for him to leave.
Bale told Sky Sports: "I tried to leave last year but they [Real Madrid] blocked everything at the last second.
"It was a project I was excited for last year but it didn't materialise. And there have been other instances but the club won't allow it or something, so it's up to the club.
"I want to play football. I'm still motivated to play football. I'm 31 but I'm in great shape still and I feel I've got a lot to give. We'll see what happens. It's in the club's hands and they make things very difficult to be honest."
Bale is contracted until 2022 at Real Madrid, but appears keen to move on now and represent one last big club before retirement.
A move back to the Premier League would seemingly suit all parties, but Calderon says Real Madrid weren't prepared to ship him back to England when an unnamed club came calling.
Calderon told talkSPORT: "I know in the last day of the transfer window last year there was an offer from the Premier League.
"They offered €100m [£89m] and Real Madrid turned down that offer because they thought Bale would be a player in their side.
"I'm not allowed to say the name, though I do know the name of the club. I think at the end there was a disagreement as Madrid decided not to sell the player, because they thought he was a player who could be used and be in the starting line-up."
Calderon added: "I think the player neither wants to leave nor to reduce his salary. It is true his salary is very high, but in 2016 the club decided to increase his salary.
"It is difficult for any club to pay that salary, especially knowing the situation of football nowadays."
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