Former Southampton academy chief Malcolm Ellis admits Gareth Bale was one game away from being released as a teen.
The former attacker has since gone on to become Wales’ greatest player.
But Elias, who worked at Southampton‘s academy during the 2000s, said on a new documentary about the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star: “Everybody will look at the good times – there have been tough times for him and his family.
“We had offered seven players in that group a scholarship. He was number eight.
“I think we just decided, come on we’ll make a decision based on Saturday and that was D-Day. Thankfully for him and for us he was outstanding.
“I remember after the game saying to his parents Frank and Debbie, ‘he’s going to be fine’.”