Michael Laudrup understands Gareth Bale's Real Madrid desire

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has insisted that he understands why Gareth Bale would want to join Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Welshman has been heavily linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, and Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti recently admitted that talks have begun over a transfer.

"Real are a massive club. I don't know if he will go as I only know what I've read in the papers here and in Spain because there's huge interest in him," Laudrup, who played for Madrid, told reporters. "There are three or four clubs who say they are the biggest in world but Real Madrid are definitely one of them.

"Tottenham are a big club but Real Madrid is a step more in every aspect, they have won the Champions League nine times and I don't know how many league titles. There is a lot of pressure. You have to have quality as a player but you also have to cope with that pressure and not everyone can do that. He has technical ability to play there but let's see what happens. I think he's a great player and he's already shown that with a fantastic season for Tottenham last season.

"But we are reading about some big numbers and if they are true, maybe in the end he will go. Big players want to play at the highest level, at a club who try and win the Champions League, who get to finals and semi-finals. There are six, eight, 10 clubs with that potential and Real Madrid is obviously one of them. All big players want to play for that possibility because it's special."

Bale will reportedly cost Madrid a record-breaking fee of £85m.