Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer does not believe it was Jose Mourinho's decision to bring Gareth Bale back to Tottenham.

Mourinho was recently sacked as Spurs boss after months of speculation about unrest in the north London club's dressing room.

And, as reported by the Evening Standard earlier this year, Bale was one player who did not always enjoy the best of relationships with Mourinho.

Ultimately, with everything that has gone on behind the scenes, especially disputes regarding Bale's fitness, Palmer has questioned whether Mourinho wanted the Welsh forward back at Tottenham in the first place.

Discussing the 58-year-old's recent dismissal in an exclusive interview with FFC, Palmer said:

"It's always easy to get rid of the manager than get rid of the players. There seems to be no love lost between Gareth Bale and Jose and it's interesting. Reading between the lines, I don't think that was Jose's decision to bring Gareth Bale in.

"I think the criticism that was labelled at Gareth Bale was fair by Jose Mourinho. He's come back to the football club; he wasn't fit. He wasn't fit to play."

Like Mourinho, Bale also looks set to leave Tottenham. The 31-year-old Wales international recently stated that it is his intention to return to Real Madrid and see out the remaining year of his contract there.