'Ask Mourinho!' - Gareth Bale's agent speaks out on Tottenham star's struggles

Gareth Bale’s agent says the responsibility lies with Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho to explain why the Real Madrid loanee is not playing more for Spurs.

The 31-year-old returned to north London to great fanfare over the summer but has started just two Premier League matches since then amid mounting tension with his manager.

According to Mourinho, Bale was unable to train last week before facing Everton despite posting on Instagram that he had enjoyed a ‘good session’, with the Spurs boss saying his post ‘created a contradiction with reality’.

Bale has only been handed five substitute appearances in the league – including last weekend against Manchester City – while he has just one goal in six Europa League outings.

Now the winger’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, has suggested that Bale’s lack of game time is simply a by-product of coming to the end of his career, though says the onus is on Mourinho to explain his lack of involvement.

‘He’s towards the end of his career,’ said Barnett at the Financial Times Business of Football event when asked why Bale is not playing. ‘You have to ask Mourinho that.

‘When they say what’s happened to him he’s won more trophies abroad than any player in British history.

‘He’s done very well financially, he has money for the rest of his life.’

On Bale’s decision to return to Spurs, Barnett continued: ‘With Gareth we always knew where he wanted to be.

‘We knew he had the talent so when clubs came in, the first thing we did was looking at the clubs that were there and the ones to progress his career.

‘We chose Tottenham for clear reasons – the path to the first team, there was good coaching.

‘We turned down two offers for more money than what we offered at the time but we spoke with him, his parents and they listened to us and he finished up at Real Madrid.’

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