Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer Raul has criticised Tottenham over their world-record valuation of star forward Gareth Bale.
Madrid are ready to pay in excess of the 80million they spent on Cristiano Ronaldo, but Tottenham are digging their heels in over the fee.
Madrid ramped up their public pursuit of the 24-year-old towards the end of last month, with a number of the club's playing staff, and manager Carlo Ancelotti, praising the player.
But talks between the two clubs appear to have reached an impasse recently. Ancelotti said last week that he did not need to add any more players to his squad and it is understood that reports of the two clubs agreeing a £93million fee are wide of the mark.
Although Madrid recognises Bale's talent having been impressed by his 31-goal haul last season, Raul thinks a world-record fee for the Welshman is simply too much.
"Bale is a wonderful player and he will be a great addition to Real Madrid, but his price is too high," Raul told the website of his club Al Sadd in Qatar.
"Tottenham overestimates in the price of Bale."
Bale has not played for Tottenham for over a month as he has been struck by two injuries, the first to his buttock, and the most recent one, which will keep him out of Thursday's Europa League game against Dinamo Tbilisi, to his foot.
Spurs midfielder Paulinho, who joined the club from Corinthians for a then club-record fee of £17million, wants Bale to spurn Madrid's interest and stay at White Hart Lane.
"I sincerely don't know (if he will stay), but I think this is something more private for Bale, he doesn't tell me anything," he told Fox Sports Brazil.
Source: PA
