Real Madrid’s interest in Gareth Bale appears to be cooling after head coach Carlo Ancelotti told club president Florentino Pérez that he did not consider the Tottenham player integral to his plans this season, the Telegraph reports.

Ancelotti’s comments, which are understood to have been made in a meeting with Pérez at the end of the club’s US tour, follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s refusal to publicly endorse the signing last week and a change in public opinion in Madrid.

Real's position could prompt Manchester United to formalise their interest in Bale - who has been ruled out of Wales’ friendly international with Republic of Ireland, despite training with Chris Coleman’s squad on Monday morning - following the Old Trafford club’s failure to prise Ronaldo from the Bernabéu.

United manager David Moyes admires Bale, but the club remain wary of making a formal offer because of concerns over Tottenham’s willingness to sell to them and the lack of encouragement from the Welshman’s camp that he would consider a move to Old Trafford.