West Ham United manager David Moyes reveals he wanted Gareth Bale to be his first signing when he took over at Manchester United.
Bale is line to make his Premier League return against West Ham United on Sunday after joining the North London outfit on loan from Real Madrid.
Maroune Fellaini was United's first signing under Moyes after being linked with a number of players that summer but he reveals he tried to hijack Real's move for Bale in 2012.
"Gareth Bale was probably the first name I thought of when I got the job," Moyes said, as per Goal. "I thought Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player. He was the right type.
"United have a great history of wide players with George Best up to Ryan Giggs and a whole lot of other brilliant ones in between.
"I wanted Gareth Bale to be my first signing at Manchester United. But it was already down the road a bit with Real Madrid. I tried to hijack it. I tried to get him. Manchester United offered more money than Real Madrid. They offered more money to the player.
"We did everything we could to try and get the player. We even had a helicopter at the training ground to take him and bring him back. We thought we had a chance. But he chose Real Madrid and he made a brilliant decision because he went on to win four Champions Leagues. He's had a brilliant career."
