Gareth Bale says he is more than happy at Real Madrid and has no intention of leaving to join Manchester United or any other club.
Former Tottenham star Bale joined Madrid for a reported 100 million euros in the summer of 2013, and scored key goals in the finals as Los Blancos won both the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season.
However, persistent speculation has linked him with a big-money return to the Premier League, with United boss Louis van Gaal refusing to confirm or deny the rumours last month.
In his first big radio interview in Spain, conducted in English, the 25-year-old told "El Larguero" that he was content to remain at Madrid for years to come.
Asked whether he was aware of English media stories linking him with Manchester United, he said: "For me, no. I have heard the rumours but I am happy here. I have still got a few years left on my contract.
"I am happy, we are winning trophies and I want to keep doing that here at Madrid. It is different football. I am enjoying a lot this experience, this culture, and trying to take it all in and enjoy it."
¿Te has perdido la entrevista con @GarethBale11? http://t.co/QRKJ0mhWA1 Aquí la tienes #BaleenlaSer pic.twitter.com/yBWZg5wViG
- EL LARGUERO (@ellarguero) January 28, 2015
Much of the more recent transfer speculation has come among a growing feeling among some Madrid fans and pundits that Bale is not a team player, having twice taken shots -- and missed the target -- rather than pass to Cristiano Ronaldo in recent games.
Ronaldo, though, subsequently urged the fans to "be nice" to the Wales international, and Bale stressed that there was no problem between the pair.
"All I remember is going through on goal, and being very focused on trying to score," he said. "If I had scored, nobody would have said anything. I did not see [Ronaldo] and it seemed like a difficult pass.
"I do not actually know how much importance was given to it. We did not speak about it at all afterwards. I think it happens all the time, in all teams, and what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. Nobody takes it personally afterwards."
Bale said that, generally speaking, he did not pay much attention to the media pundits, not least because of his difficulty understanding Spanish.
"I do not understand it and I tend not to look at it," he said. "I just concentrate on my football. When I am at home I talk about other things -- golf, my life in general, not about what other people say. People have their own opinions -- that is what they do for a living. On the pitch I give assists, and score goals, playing my own way."
There have also been concerns over Bale's fitness but, asked whether he has had trouble with his back all through his career, the attacker said he had some issues as a teenager but the more recent stories of a chronic injury problem were untrue.
He added: "I have had no problems with my back or anything. It was just one of those things when you grow up. It happens to everyone, but then it's over. The stories are all lies. That's why I never talk about it."
Bale laughed when asked whether he had ever challenged Ronaldo to a race on the training ground.
"We actually have not had a race, no," he said. "I knew this question would come up. To be honest I am sure it would be a very good race and he would think he would win, and I would think I would win. It would be interesting..."
After 18 months in Madrid, Bale said he was well settled into Spanish life now, although he tended to keep a low profile around the city.
"It is a bit different -- the weather for a start," he said. "It is a more relaxed city than London. I am not someone who is always in the press. I go out for food quite a lot but just try and go under the radar. I have been to Madrid city centre a few times with family and friends, but I keep a low profile, wearing a hat, keeping as quiet as I can. But it is nice to experience other zones of Madrid."
While the interview was carried out in English, Bale said his Spanish was improving bit by bit.
"I am doing as many classes as I can, two or three a week," he said. "They are going very well. I am able to understand a lot more now, and talk more too."
Asked if he had taken part in a reported Madrid squad meeting this week to complain about the club letting long-serving physio Pedro Chueca leave, Bale laughed again and said: "I actually did not understand what was going on."