Mourinho ready to make move for Bale

Skopje, Macedonia: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho laid down the gauntlet to UEFA Super Cup opponents Real Madrid by expressing his desire to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford.

Speaking to reporters in the Macedonian capital of Skopje on Monday, Mourinho said he would wait to see what Bale's role for Real in Tuesday's match would be before deciding whether the Welshman was worth pursuing.

"If he plays tomorrow it is because he is in the plans of the coach and the club, and it is in his own plans and ambitions to stay there. Then I won't even think about it," said Mourinho of the 28-year-old.

"If he's not in the club's plans and it's true that a player like Bale is at the departure gate, I'll try to be there waiting for him at the other side.

"But if he plays, it's the clearest signal that he's staying there."

However, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane instead preferred to focus on Bale's improved physical condition when asked to respond to Mourinho's comments.

"The important thing is that the player is well. He has had continuity training with us. The end of last season was not easy for him. He was out for almost four months, but now he is fine," Zidane said.