Ex-Tottenham midfielder David Pleat doubts Bale would succeed in Spain straight away…
Football commentator, and ex-Spurs midfielder David Pleat thinks 24-year-old Gareth Bale is too young to move to Real Madrid, reports BBC Sport.
“I think he’s a little bit young to go abroad,” said the 51-year-old, who worked as director of football at White Harte Lane between 1998 and 2003.
“I doubt he’d find it easy. Many have failed when they have moved overseas.”
Pleat added: “One or two have succeeded, but not many. Most have had a difficult time. I think he is young to go, but he might feel that, with his partner and baby, it will be a new start for him.
“I think it might be better if he stayed, continued to work and maybe next summer leave if that is his wish.”
Gareth Bale could hardly be described as a young player full of potential, and at 24-years-old, has already won the Premier League Player of the Year award twice. Pleat however, thinks Bale could struggle to adapt to life in Spain, and it could halt his blossoming career.
“It’s a slow pace of life. I was in a hotel for six months with a young child. It’s very difficult. You need to get a lot of things in order off the pitch. I’d be surprised if he went this year,” continued Pleat.
He did admit though, that if a truly astronomical bid did arrive, Spurs would have no choice but to accept.
“Tottenham have been very firm,” he said.
“If something shattering, like £100m, is put on the table, then I think even the resistance of Daniel Levy may have to give in, but I think even supporters would understand it for that money.”
A fee close to £100m would shatter the world-record Real Madid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, when he too, was 24-years-old. The Portuguese has gone on to score 201 goals in 199 games for Madrid, and has undeniably justified his price-tag. He had already scored 46 goals in the 2007/08 season for United however, and won the World Player of the Year award, and while Bale is proving to be one of the best players on the continent, he is yet to reach such heights.
As Pleat says though, a £100m bid would be near enough impossible to reject
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