Gareth Bale will not be sold by Tottenham in the summer, even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League by finishing out of the top four in the English Premier League, according to Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Bale has been unstoppable at times this season, particularly after the turn of the year, almost single-handedly keeping Spurs in the race for the top four. That has led to some of the biggest clubs in the world prepare bids for the 23-year-old forward, with Real Madrid the leading candidates.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas last week said Bale might leave if they fail to book a place in the Champions League this season.
However, the Portuguese insisted his comments had been misunderstood and Bale would stay at White Hart Lane next season. Tottenham are currently in fifth place, behind Arsenal and Chelsea.
"The information that I have from the club, which was mistakenly written about last week, is that the player is here to remain, independent of the objectives of Champions League qualification being achieved or not," Villas-Boas told a press conference.
"I would be extremely surprised (if he left at the end of the season).
"In football anything can happen. It's impossible to predict, but this is the assurance I have had from the club.
"We understand that the more awards the more recognition the player will have, the more media attention, but the club has to move forward by holding onto its best players.
"With the recognition and the further experience that he has had from this year, next year for Tottenham he will be even more assertive."
Tottenham have reportedly slapped a £60 million ($93 million) price tag on Bale, to discourage bids from interested suitors -- and the price just seems to increase with every single brilliant Bale performance -- as Daniel Levy and Villas-Boas looks to build a team around Bale capable of competing for the English Premier League title.
