Mourinho: I'll be waiting on Bale if he doesn't play in UEFA Super Cup

Jose Mourinho has drawn a line in the sand.

If Real Madrid plays Gareth Bale in Tuesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash against his Manchester United, there’s no point pursuing his signature this summer. But if Zinedine Zidane opts to keep Bale on the bench, that’s a different story.

Real Madrid has been linked with a move for AS Monaco star Kylian Mbappe, and Zidane might reportedly offload Bale to fund the move. The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson reports Bale has been assured he remains a part of Real Madrid’s future, and that the club will pursue Mbappe next summer. Mourinho is willing to test those reports by attempting to gauge Madrid’s thinking Tuesday.

When asked if he was considering a move for Bale, Mourinho told reporters, as quoted by the Daily Mail: “If he’s playing tomorrow then I wouldn’t think of that.

“If he’s playing tomorrow it’s because he’s in the club’s plans. He has that ambition to continue in Madrid.

“I haven’t even thought about the possibility. If he’s not in the club plans – that what you are writing is true – with the arrival of another player, then we’ll try to wait for him on the other side and fight with other coaches.

“If he plays tomorrow it’s probably confirmation they’ll count on him next season.”