Gareth Bale has urged team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo not to leave Real Madrid amid rumours of a return to the Premier League.
Ronaldo s value to the UEFA Champions League holders has been evident in recent times, with the Portugal forward carrying his incredible goalscoring form from last season into new campaign.
The 29-year-old netted his 22nd La Liga hat-trick and third treble of the season in last Sunday s 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao to take his tally for the new term to 17.
But speculation of a move back to Manchester United, who he left to join Real in 2009, has been rife, while Manchester City have also been linked with a sensational swoop for the former Sporting Libson man.
Yet Bale, whose arrival in the Spanish capital last season and subsequent prolific partnership with Ronaldo was key to Real s return to European supremacy, is understandably keen for the Madeira-born star to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He s shown what a world-class player he is year after year scoring the goals, Bale said.
Obviously he s a player we wouldn t want to see leave. Of course [I] want to see him stay at Real Madrid.
Bale also rubbished any talk of him moving to pastures new, despite a poll in Madrid newspaper Marca revealing that 60 per cent of Real fans want the Wales international to be dropped.
He added: I signed a six-year deal last year so I don t really think so.