Manchester United legend Gary Neville has urged his former club to go with their head and not their heart by signing Gareth Bale ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo next summer.

Speculation has mounted that Ronaldo, who spent six trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, could leave Real Madrid this summer, with a return to United touted for the 30-year-old.

Neville played with him during his Red Devils spell, but the ex-defender says that his Blancos' teammate Bale - who is four years younger - would represent the smarter option.

"The idea of Cristiano coming back as his swansong, well it wouldn't be the same for him as it was before," Neville told the Daily Star.

"What he did before at United was, for two years, out of this world and it was a privilege to be part of it. But I would certainly prefer us to get Bale - and that's no disrespect to Cristiano."

Ronaldo joined the Spanish giants for £80m in 2009, before the Welshman eclipsed him as the world's most expensive player by sealing an £85m move to the Bernabeu from Tottenham Hotspur four years later.

The Portuguese also has three Ballon d'Or titles under his belt, and could pick up a fourth come January.