Andre Villas Boas: Real Madrid's pursuit of Gareth Bale pressurized us

Gareth Bale shakes hands with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez after he was officially unveiled by the club.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas Boas confessed that the club was under pressure when Gareth Bale came out with his intention to leave the club, Premiership Talk reports.

The 24-year-old, who was last season’s Premier League Player of the Year, completed a £86 million switch to Spanish giants Real Madrid days before the transfer window shut.

In spite of Bale wanting to leave, Tottenham held on to the player while a deal was being made with Real Madrid, AVB stated that the club could not do much when the time of the sale arrived.

“The pressure we were subjected to by the player has been intense,” Villas Boas admitted to reporters, as reported by The Telegraph.

“The influence of Real Madrid has been very big and you get to a point where you have to consider if it’s feasible not to accept an offer and whether you can press on with a player in that state of mind.

“Obviously, we should be happy with the transfer fee that was paid. Players want to win championships and I believe that with Gareth that is within reach. At the end of the day, it’s up to a player to decide if he wants to stay or wants to go.

Tottenham look strong this season, in spite of losing their star man, courtesy of their £100 million signings this season. Andres Villas Boas has got reinforcements in the form of Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli, Paulinho, and Etienne Capoue, striker Roberto Soldado, and defender Vlad Chiriches.

The capture of Erik Lamela, one of modern football’s hottest prospects, is seen as the best. The former AS Roma midfielder has vowed to bring back memories of club legend and fellow Argentine Ossie Ardiles.