Real pursuit of Bale 'not immoral'
The president of the Spanish Football League (LFP) has dismissed suggestions that Real Madrid's pursuit of Gareth Bale - which could break the world record transfer fee - is immoral.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are believed to be tabling a bid in the region of 100million euros (£86.5million) in order to tempt Tottenham into selling the Welsh forward, which would smash the current record of 96million euros (£83.3million), which Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo four years ago.
The bid has attracted criticism in some circles in light of the economic crisis still ravaging Spain, but LFP president Javier Tebas insists he has no problem with Madrid getting out their chequebook to bring the PFA Player of the year to La Liga.
He told reporters: "It is immoral to pay for something when you cannot afford it. I think it's more immoral for a club to spend one million euros which they do not have.
"A 100million euros is a huge amount of money to spend on a player but if Madrid can afford that then it's not a question of morality, but of whether it's a risky move or not."
Tebas declared that he looks favourably upon the move for Bale, as the Welshman's arrival would boost the profile of Spanish football.
"I don't know much about him, but if Bale is a good player, than I'd rather he was over here (in La Liga) than in the Premier League," he said.
"It's not a question of how much he costs, you have to look at how much money he will generate, and if the LFP has all the stars, it will allow us to maintain high television revenue. All the money the arrival of this type of player generates translates into more revenue."
Tebas also responded to questions from journalists about the increasing number of high profile players from outside of the top two clubs who have left La Liga this summer, such as Radamel Falcao, Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Iago Aspas, with Roberto Soldado set to follow the trend, by leaving Valencia for Tottenham.
"Seeing players leave is a double-edged sword," he said.
"Clubs need to decrease their debts, and it's a shame that players have to leave, but it is good news because this is the path we have chosen.
"Spanish football clubs pay 120million euros in interest each season, and just think about the players we could have had with that money and how much we could have paid them.
"If we can reduce our debts, in four or five seasons' time we will have more money to invest in our football. We are on the right track, and the clubs know that."
