Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp rejected offers from Manchester City and Inter Milan for Gareth Bale when he was struggling for form.

Bale's lack of action, coupled with noises from inside White Hart Lane, encouraged Manchester City, managed at the time by former Wales coach Mark Hughes, to make an approach in last summer's transfer window, while Inter boss Jose Mourinho wanted him on loan, says the Daily Mail.

"It would have scared me to death to have sold him," admitted Redknapp after watching Bale add Chelsea's scalp to that of Arsenal.

"I knew what he had. It was just a case of him growing up a little bit, getting a bit stronger, and he's done that."

Redknapp added: "Gareth got so much hype at Southampton.

"He came here and it was difficult. To have gone 23 or 24 games without being on a winning team, that's not easy to have hanging around your neck.

"He's growing up fast and he's got everything, really. He's a 6ft 1in left winger who can score goals, head the ball and cross the ball like he does. He also has the ability to run all day."