Freshly-appointed Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has dealt Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of re-signing Gareth Bale a potential blow, having admitted that he sees his future in Spain.
The Italian left Spurs’ Premier League rivals Everton on Tuesday, returning to the Santiago Bernabeu after six years away.
Ancelotti actually arrived at the club originally in the same summer as Bale’s big-money transfer from White Hart Lane, coaching him for two seasons before getting sacked.
The Welshman’s career spiralled since, being starved of game time before being sent out on-loan to Tottenham for the 2020/21 campaign, where he netted 16 goals in 34 outings.
That form triggered calls for Bale to remain with Spurs - but Ancelotti appears to have halted those hopes.
Talking in his first press conference since returning to Real, he said: "Gareth has not played much in the Premier League, but he scored lots of goals, was very effective in recent games when he had a chance to play.
“He is coming back, I know him very well, he will be motivated to play better and have a great season, no doubt."
Whilst Bale’s future seemingly looked like heading for the Real Madrid exit door, and still could considering that he has just one year remaining on his most recent deal, Ancelotti admitted that he will give the winger a chance to impress.
“I have a lot of love still for Gareth [Bale], Isco, Marcelo… they will have motivation to show they can still play for Real Madrid,” the former Everton and Chelsea boss said.
"With this squad, without loan players like Bale, Odegaard and Ceballos, Madrid reached UCL semis and fought for La Liga. So we have the players to win trophies."
