David Moyes has revealed he came close to making Gareth Bale his first signing at Manchester United in 2013. The Scot was appointed as United manager following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, but lasted just 10 months in the job before being sacked with the club eventually slumping to a seventh-place finish.
Reflecting on his short spell at Old Trafford, Moyes has revealed he was hopeful of concluding a deal to bring Bale to United, but was ultimately unable to tempt the Wales forward away from making a then-world record move to Real Madrid. “I wanted him to be my first signing at Manchester United,” he said.