LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he told Real Madrid to sign Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale when he was still in charge at the Bernabeu last season.

Bale, 23, is the subject of a world-record 105-million-pound bid from the Spanish giants.

Former Real coach Mourinho, who joined Chelsea in June and has since been replaced at Madrid by Carlo Ancelotti, told ESPN: "I asked the club to buy him last season but it was not possible.

"It looks like it is happening this season so I am happy for Real because they get a fantastic player but, of course, the numbers are huge numbers and the kid has to go now and there's pressure to prove that he's worth that investment.

"I think he's a fantastic player and the way my Real Madrid was playing, I think it was an easy player to fill a space and to get into that tactical dynamic.

"I don't know what Carlo is thinking now but Carlo is an experienced coach and for sure will get the best out of him."