Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed how Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson didn't believe Gareth Bale was physically ready for the Premier League.

Spurs beat United for Bale when he was coming through at Southampton two years ago.

"Alex Ferguson said to me last year, 'You can't pick him, you're mad', and I said, 'It's difficult,' " Redknapp said. "But now he looks fantastic, an amazing left-sided player. If he was English, he'd be in the England team, for sure, because he could solve two problems."