Gareth Bale and Andre Villas-Boas enjoy an excellent working relationship

The Footballer of the Year has been repeatedly linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid, but Spurs don't need to sell and have reportedly offered the Wales international a new £130,000-a-week contract.

And the 23-year-old, who is under contract until 2016, appears happy to stay at White Hart Lane and continue his development under Villas-Boas.

"He has helped me in all aspects of my game," Bale told Spurs TV. "In training we have been working on things that I can do in games and in games he has given me the confidence to do what I want and do what I do best, which is a massive thing for a player.

"Everyone was excited about him coming in. He is a young manager and he has got a great past at Porto. Maybe not so much at Chelsea but given time, like he has been this season, he has shown what a good manager he is. It has been a very exciting time for the club.

"He has tried his new tactics, his new style of play with us. Sometimes it does take a bit of time just to get used to it and at the start of the season I think that was a bit difficult. But we adapted and got stronger and stronger."

Bale admits he enjoys the extra attention he receives from opposition fans.

"I get more abuse than anyone away from home," he added. "You get used to it. I suppose it's a compliment, that they don't want you doing anything good, they try to put you off. It's all good fun and games."