Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists he always supported Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane.
Redknapp wrote in his book, 'Always Managing: My Autobiography by Harry Redknapp', which is being serialised in the Daily Mail: "There is some right old rubbish talked about Gareth Bale's time with me at Tottenham.
"Was I ever going to sell Bale? No. Was I going to loan him? No. I've heard talk - everyone from Richard Keys to Alex McLeish - making it sound as if what happened to Bale's career was a fluke and that I never fancied him.
"Whatever faults I may have, I do know a player. Go right back to the first team I ever picked as Tottenham manager, against Arsenal on October 29, 2008, Bale was in it.
"It's true we had some work to do with him but he was one of the players I was most looking forward to working with when I went to Tottenham as manager. I really fancied my chances at getting the best out of him - he struck me as an exceptional talent: strong, quick, with a superb shot."
