The Tottenham Hotspur star, whose performances this season have seen him marked out as the best young player in the world, has admitted that appearing in the Olympics is probably his best chance of playing in a major international tournament.

"I feel the Olympics would be a great opportunity for a young player like me to play in a major tournament," he told the Daily Mirror in an interview published today.

The British team in 2012 is tipped to be coached by Harry Redknapp, Bale's manager at Tottenham.

But it is set to be an English-only team because Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are refusing to back a British team for fear it will affect their independence to compete in events like the World Cup and European Championships.

Two years ago the Football Association of Wales (FAW) warned that they would not allow any of its players to take part at London 2012.

"If any of our players put their hand up and said they wanted to play in the Olympics, they would not be able to do it," said Dave Collins, the then-secretary of the FAW.

"They are Welsh players and we would not give them permission."

But 21-year-old Bale, whose value has soared to more than £30 million following a series of outstanding performances in the Champions League, has warned that he is ready to defy the FAW.

"Look, I'm Welsh and we all know Wales don't tend to qualify for too many," said Bale.

"I would love to play in the Olympics, especially as it would be a part of a Great Britain team.

"Of course, I always want Wales to be Wales.

"That is important and I wouldn't want that to change but if there's a chance for me to play in a GB team that would be a great idea."

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May 2008: Welsh players face ban if they compete in 2012