Redknapp on Bale: "The fee is crazy money"

Posted Wednesday, October 09, 2013 by Marca.com

Redknapp on Bale:

Harry Redknapp, Gareth Bale's former coach at Tottenham, talks about the Welsh player in his book 'Always managing': "I predicted he would be our Cristiano Ronaldo. I had always felt there was more to Gareth than left back, or even left wing. Don't get me wrong, if he wanted to be a left back he could be the best in the world."

"The bottom line is that Gareth can play anywhere. I think Carlo Ancelotti, his coach at Real Madrid, will view him the same way as me - a free spirit, not tied to any one position. His biggest test will be to step out of the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo with confidence. That won't be easy. Ronaldo is a huge star at Madrid and will probably want to take 9 out of 10 free-kicks - at least. Gareth will have to assert himself and that will require a strong mind. He has to think 'I'm an £95million player' and act like it, taking responsibility, claiming the ball when he fancies his chances," he writes.

Redknapp believes that Bale "will have to be ready for the matches when he goes it alone, has a shot, misses and Ronaldo starts throwing his arms up in the air. The fee is crazy, amazing money, but he wouldn't have fought so hard to get the deal done if he didn't fancy his chances of living up to expectations in Madrid."

"His relationship with Ronaldo is the key to it all. If Ronaldo feels threatened by Gareth's arrival, Madrid could be a lonely place so he will need to lean a lot on Ancelotti, who speaks good English, and Paul Clement, Carlo's assistant, who is English. Luka Modric is another old friend who could help him settle in."