Gareth Bale has been stunned by Tottenham's decision to reject a world record £82 million bid from Real Madrid for him. The Mail on Sunday says the 24-year-old missed his club's pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Saturday - and cannot see himself wearing the white of Tottenham again.

Manager Andre Villas Boas has diplomatically put the Welshman's absence from this week's Barclays Asia Trophy tournament down to a muscle strain. But the reality is that the player is physically fit to play - but mentally shattered.

He has set his heart on a move to Madrid to play Champions League football alongside global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.

But the final decision on his dream move rests with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is digging his heels in and insisting Bale fulfils the remaining three years of his contract.

With Wales missing from next summer's World Cup, Bale is desperate to test himself in Europe's biggest competition and faces turning 25 in a year's time having played just one season at that level.