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Rafael Van der Vaart says he hopes Tottenham sign Gareth Bale

(L-R) Pierre van Hooijdonk, Rafael van der Vaart, Tom Egbers during the EURO Qualifier match between Holland v Germany at the Johan Cruijff Aren...
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The Real Madrid ace has been linked with a return to Tottenham Hotspur.

Rafael van der Vaart with tactical note of Holland coach Ronald Koeman during the UEFA Nations League A group 1 qualifying match between Germany and The Netherlands at the Veltins Arena on...

Tottenham legend Rafael van der Vaart sat down for an exclusive interview with the London Evening Standard, and admitted that he hopes Gareth Bale one day returns to Spurs.

The 29-year-old left Tottenham for Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, for a then world record fee of £85.3 million, and he has gone on to rack up an impressive 102 goals and 63 assists in 224 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos.

Bale has received criticism from some sections of the Bernabeu crowd during his spell in the Spanish capital, however, and he has been linked with a summer exit from the club (AS), since Zinedine Zidane returned as manager.

Tottenham are one club who could sign the Wales international, according to the Express, with Christian Eriksen heading in the opposite direction, but whether the north London outfit could afford his wages remains highly doubtful.

And Van der Vaart told the London Evening Standard how he would love to see Bale back at Spurs:

Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale during last training session before the match of Liga Spanish against Eibar in Madrid, Spain, on 23 November 2018.

“I know him as a person and, with a Spurs hat, I always hope he’ll say, ‘Okay, I’ll come back’. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but that would be a nice story.”

Much will depend on how valued Bale feels under Zidane, and if he isn’t played regularly by the Frenchman, a return to Tottenham would certainly be a possibility.

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid celebrates with teammates during celebrations at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium following their victory last night in Kiev in the UEFA Champions League final, on...