Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that Manchester United's interest in Gareth Bale forced them to lodge a bid for the Welshman.

The Spanish giants secured the 24-year-old's signature for a reported world-record £85m from Tottenham Hotspur towards the end of the summer window.

However, before the transfer was sealed, reports claimed that another club had lodged an offer to Spurs for Bale's services, and according to Perez, Premier League champions United tried to scupper their deal.

Despite United's interest, Perez believes that Bale's dream to play at the Bernabeu clinched the "cheap" deal.

"Bale came to Madrid relatively cheap," Perez told Cadena SER. "Signing the best players out there is Madrid's philosophy and Bale was the best available player this summer. We had been following him for two years.

"Tottenham initially did not want to sell, but when we heard Manchester United made an offer, we tabled a bid ourselves. His childhood dream to play for Madrid eventually proved to be decisive."

Bale missed his home debut against Getafe for Madrid after suffering muscle fatigue in the warm-up.