Mourinho on reports linking Bale with a return move to Tottenham.

Wales forward Gareth Bale has been linked with a move back to Spurs [Getty]

Mourinho says 'there is no secret about my admiration of Madrid forward Bale.'

Jose Mourinho has responded to reports linking Tottenham Hotspur with a move for Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.

The former Los Blancos coach was speaking to the press today when he was asked about speculation suggesting Bale could be re-joining Spurs this summer.

Mourinho said: "Gareth Bale is a Real Madrid player. I don't comment on players from other clubs. I can't comment. That is not my job to have contacts with agents. I don't want to comment on that."

When asked if he would like the Welshman to be a part of his Lilywhites squad, he replied: "I don't comment on hypothetical stuff. He's a Real Madrid player. I have to respect that.

"I tried to sign him for Real Madrid which was not possible to do during my time there. But the president followed my instinct and my knowledge and the season I left he brought Gareth to the club.

"There is no secret on [my admiration of the player], I think even Gareth knows that."

Mourinho also spoke about how vital it will be for his team to sign one more player.

"A squad is a puzzle and when a new signing completes the puzzle it's great for the team. Three more weeks, the market is open both ways. 

"I think in football you have to be always waiting for something to happen. Let's see what happens to us. I never liked to start the competition with an open transfer window."

On replacing England midfielder Dele Alli at half-time in their home loss to Everton, Mourinho said on Alli: "The change at half-time was not the first time I've done that in my career. I did that with Eric Dier against Olympiacos. 

"When I do these things I always do it for the team. In some cases the option was choosing right, in others it was proven wrong. In this case it didn't work and the team wasn't better in the second half. That's my job to make decisions. There is no story. There is no cases."

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