WALES midfielder Joe Ledley denies that Gareth Bale revealed his plans to his Welsh teammates this week.
Tottenham star Bale has been heavily linked with a world record move to Real Madrid all summer and national media reported this week that he had told the Wales camp: “I’ll not wear a Spurs shirt again.”
The Sun newspaper reported a source in the Wales camp as saying: “Gareth is confused and bitter. He can’t understand why Spurs have not agreed what would be the largest transfer fee in history.
“How could any player not be affected when he knows one of the world's biggest clubs has made a huge bid but that the deal isn’t progressing? One thing’s certain, he’ll not play for Spurs again.”
But Ledley dismissed those claims, stating that injured ace Bale had remained tight-lipped on his future this week and denying that the issue had been a distraction in the build-up to Wednesday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland.
“We are professionals and we deal with it,” said Ledley after the 0-0 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium, which Bale watched from the bench in a Wales suit.
“Gareth hasn’t said anything to us,” he added.
“Hopefully it will be sorted soon. There’s only a few weeks to go before the transfer window closes so it will be settled one way or the other.”
Celtic midfielder Ledley was happy that Wales recorded their first clean sheet under manager Chris Coleman against the Irish – in their first 0-0 draw since November 2007.
“I thought we defended well as a team and we got a clean sheet as well so we’re happy,” said the 26-year-old.
“It’s been a while since we kept a clean sheet so that is a good confidence booster. We need to build on that and just need some goals at the other end now.
“Both teams played some good football at times but some people are a bit rusty without competitive games so that showed at times.”
Ledley is also optimistic about his former club Cardiff City’s prospects in the Premier League this season.
“I think Cardiff will survive,” he added. “They’ll take mid-table this season and I wish them all the best.”
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