Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has confirmed that his client has no intention to leave Real Madrid in the summer.

Jose Mourinho publicly expressed interest in the Welshman over the summer when it appeared he may be dispensable for Zinedine Zidane ahead of the potential signing of Kylian Mbappe.

Any possible deal was off the table when Mbappe joined Paris Saint Germain instead, but reports of Man United’s interest have nonetheless refused to subside this season.

But Barnett, when asked about Bale’s future, insisted that his client wasn’t planning on going anywhere over the summer.

“I really respect Raiola and Jorge Mendes, we are like the Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar of agents,” he said. “Bale? I think he’s worth as much as Neymar. He loves Real Madrid and doesn’t want to leave. Gareth does not need Ronaldo to leave Real Madrid, he is already a top star of the club.”

“Bale is such a positive example for children. You will never see him in a fast food. He goes to bed early and I don’t think he is worse than Neymar. He can also battle it out for the Ballon d’Or in the future. When he joined Real Madrid Florentino Perez gifted me a pen to sign contracts. I always have it with me now.

“I think no Serie A club can afford to buy Bale. There was the interest of a top Italian club but I can’t name it. Tottenham, however, refused to sell him.”

Whether or not Bale wants to stay at the Bernabeu is somewhat beside the point given that wholesale changes are expected to occur at Madrid over the summer of which the winger could be a victim.

But given that Mourinho noted last year – back when he needed an attacking winger – that pursuing Bale would be time consuming and difficult, you sense that notion will be doubly pertinent next summer as the 54-year-old places emphasis on bolstering his midfield and full-back options.