Trouble in paradise and the cheque hasn't even been signed yet
Gareth Bale's looming transfer from Tottenham 'isn't going down well in Real Madrid's dressing room'
Stars' positive public comments about the Welshman reportedly turn into 'What do we need him for?' style grumbles in private
Gareth Bale faces walking into a potential Real Madrid dressing room backlash which could turn his “dream” move sour.
Bale’s seemingly impending transfer to the Bernabeu is dependent on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy negotiating a world record deal that satisfies the north Londoners.
But while the Welshman is set on moving to arguably the most glamorous team in the game, he may find fewer friendly faces in the Spanish capital than he leaves behind at White Hart Lane.
Claims from Spain are suggesting the public welcome mat that has been rolled out by Bale’s potential team-mates is not being matched by their attitudes behind closed doors.
It was reported that Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos - the dressing room leaders who effectively forced out coach Jose Mourinho this summer after a season of spats - are among the senior players unimpressed by president Florentino Perez’s dogged pursuit of Bale.
According to the claims, the internal dissent surfaced during a dinner at a Spanish restaurant in Los Angeles during Real’s current pre-season tour of the US.
Players and directors of the Spanish giants were all present when Bale’s name came up as a topic for discussion.
One source reported: “One of the senior players said that he was surprised that Perez was willing to pay so much for one player and another asked, ‘What about us?’
“A third player was adamant that Bale was not needed, and that the squad Carlo Ancelotti already has is strong enough without him.”
Reports had Casillas, Ramos and Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao -the latter is understood to have been suggested by Real as a possible makeweight in the deal - as the loudest dissenting voices.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo also hinted at his discontent at losing his title as the world’s most expensive player is another element that may confront the Spurs wide-man.
Ronaldo remains the star of the show at Real, and voices were allegedly raised suggesting that such money should be spent on him - having proven himself over four years at the club - rather than on a player who has only one Champions League campaign under his belt.
Whether the reports, accurate or not, will put Bale off his apparent destiny is unclear and certainly Perez seems determined to get his man.
Real sources are insisting that he had contacted Levy by telephone to set up a meeting in Miami - where the Tottenham chairman has a family home, and where the Spanish giants played Chelsea in a Wednesday friendly.
Spurs stuck to the public line that Bale is not for sale, although it does seem they would listen to an offer in excess of £85million plus Real's Spain Under-21 striker Alvaro Morata.
Bale was at Spurs’ training headquarters on Wednesday.
While he has been named in the Wales squad for next week’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland, he is not expected to be fit for either Tottenham's final pre-season game, against Espanyol,
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