Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has expressed his delight at securing a new deal for Gareth Bale.
Welshman committed to Spurs before fourth place was guaranteed
Harry Redknapp has expressed his delight at securing a new deal for Gareth Bale and insisted the Welshman wanted to commit before Tottenham sealed a top-four finish.
Bale's emergence has helped propel Spurs to UEFA Champions League qualification but his performances have been so spectacular that rumours had surfaced of a possible move elsewhere.
The speculation was quashed on Friday as Bale signed a new four-year contract, with Redknapp maintaining that he has a big part to play in the future at White Hart Lane.
"He's developing here now. This is a good club and there aren't too many he could go to - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are the only teams above us," said the Tottenham manager.
"But he's very happy here and we don't want to sell him. He agreed a deal before we got fourth place."
Superstitious
Bale was once seen as a bad luck charm as Spurs failed to win in his first 24 Premier League outings for the club.
Redknapp admits that he even considered not selecting Bale because of the record the team had when the 20-year-old played.
"I'm very superstitious and there were times when I thought, 'That's not right, it's impossible for it to happen for him'. But he hasn't looked back since," Redknapp said.
"He went through that terrible spell of not being in a winning team but we got rid of that and his confidence has risen."
Future
Bale has the versatility to play in defence or on the wing but he has caught the eye more with his forward play.
But despite being one of Spurs' most potent attacking weapons over the past few months, Redknapp envisages the youngster establishing himself as a full-back.
"I think he'll become a great left-back eventually. That's how I see it," Redknapp said.
