Mourinho remains coy on Tottenham return for Bale

SHOWS:

PLOVDIV, BULGARIA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR MANAGER, JOSE MOURINHO, ON GARETH BALE, SAYING:

"I cannot comment. I don't comment on something that I don't know. For me, in this moment, until I am told that Gareth Bale is a Tottenham player, I still think and feel and respect the fact that he's a Real Madrid player, so I'm not going to comment on a Real Madrid player."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - APRIL 13, 2012) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. BALE WALKING OUT FOR TRAINING SESSION

3. BALE DURING TRAINING

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - MARCH 8, 2011) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. VARIOUS OF BALE DURING TRAINING

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - APRIL 12, 2011) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. BALE LAUGHING

STORY: Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho again refused to comment on reports that the club are on the verge of re-signing Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.

Bale's agent said on Tuesday (September 15) that talks are taking place as the Wales international looks to end his troubled spell at the Spanish club.

At a news conference on Thursday (September 17), following Spurs' 2-1 win over Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Europa League second round qualifying round, Mourinho reiterated he would not discuss other teams players.

"I don't comment on something that I don't know. For me, in this moment, until I am told that Gareth Bale is a Tottenham player, I still think and feel and respect the fact that he's a Real Madrid player."

Bale made over 200 appearances for the Premier League side between 2007 and 2013, scoring 56 goals with 58 assists before his then world record move to Real for 100 million euros ($118.46 million).

The 31-year-old has scored over 100 goals for the Madrid side and won numerous trophies, including four Champions League titles, but was give limited playing time under Zinedine Zidane towards the end of last season's La Liga triumph.