Warburton: Spurs are in a win-win position over Bale.

Sam Warburton will back his friend Gareth Bale if he decides to join Real Madrid even though the British and Irish Lions captain is a lifelong Tottenham fan.

Spurs star Bale is poised to join the Spanish giants in a world record transfer which could net the London club more than £100million.


Tottenham have insisted the Wales international is not for sale and Cardiff Blues and Wales captain Warburton reckons the White Hart Lane board are in a win-win situation.


‘If Gareth goes to Real Madrid for the money mentioned and Spurs reinvest it in the team it could set them up for a real go at regular Champions League football,’ said Warburton, who attended Whitchurch School in Cardiff along with Bale and Tour de France cyclist Geraint Thomas.

‘If he stays then he will help us get there anyway with Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Nacer Chadli having been added to the squad this summer.

‘To see what Gareth is going through at the moment is pretty incredible, the highest transfer I can think of in rugby is the £200,000 [Northampton paid Scarlets] for George North and that puts it all in perspective really.

‘I don’t think anyone can blame Gareth if he decides to go to Real Madrid. From a Tottenham fan’s perspective, I think he will always go down as a hero because of his achievements over the last six years at the the club.

‘I wish him all the best in whatever decision he makes. If he stays, then it is great news for Tottenham and if he goes then hopefully the money will be reinvested in the team to spend on making it better in all departments.’