Football: Gareth Bale bids Tottenham team-mates goodbye as Real deal looms

Tottenham take on Monaco on Saturday, Aug 3, 2013, without Gareth Bale (above), who misses the pre-season friendly in the Principality through injury ahead of a likely defining week for his forecast world record transfer to Real Madrid. -- FILE
Tottenham take on Monaco on Saturday, Aug 3, 2013, without Gareth Bale (above), who misses the pre-season friendly in the Principality through injury ahead of a likely defining week for his forecast world record transfer to Real Madrid. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
  • Published
    Aug 3, 2013, 5:34 pm SGT

LONDON (AFP) - Tottenham take on Monaco on Saturday without Gareth Bale, who misses the pre-season friendly in the Principality through injury ahead of a likely defining week for his forecast world record transfer to Real Madrid.

The Wales superstar bid "an emotional farewell" to his team-mates in London on Friday, autographing their shirts before they left for Monte Carlo, according to a report in The Sun.

The Spurs forward sits out Saturday evening's match, and may also miss Wales' friendly against Ireland in Cardiff on August 14, with a minor hamstring problem.