“I would be extremely surprised if he left”

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas expects Gareth Bale to remain at White Hart Lane even if we fail to qualify for Champions League football.

Bale rounded off the perfect week by adding the Football Writers’ Association award to his PFA double on Thursday. Many are tipping the Welshman to move onto pastures new in the summer if Spurs fail to qualify for Europe’s top club competition.

Fans were left worried last week after AVB was quoted as saying that Bale could leave N17 if we don’t make the top four, but today has gone on record to clear up his comments.

Bale’s stock will have risen after his trio of awards – but all Spurs fans want is him at the Lane again next season.

Villas-Boas told the weekly press conference: “The information that I have from the club, which was mistakenly written about last week, is that the player is here to remain, independent of the objectives of Champions League qualification being achieved or not.

“I would be extremely surprised (if he left).

“In football anything can happen. It’s impossible to predict, but this is the assurance I have had from the club.

“We understand that the more awards the more recognition the player will have, the more media attention, but the club has to move forward by holding onto its best players.

“With the recognition and the further experience that he has had from this year, next year for Tottenham he will be even more assertive.”

Villas-Boas added: “Whatever price tag the player has doesn’t matter to us because he’s our player.

“He’s a player we have to hold onto for the remaining seasons to make sure that we reach our objectives and continue to progress as a club.”

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