LONDON (AP) – It was a moment of beauty that Tottenham had become accustomed to seeing Gareth Bale produce: a wild shot from 25 yards, meandering towards the most sensitive corner of the net.
As is often the case, Bale Tottenham’s savior on 19 May 2013. But the winner of the match opposed Sunderland not enough to take Tottenham to the Champions League or convince Bale to stay at the club that turned him from behind to the left. wingman terrorizing the defenses.
Real Madrid’s hundred million euros (then a world record of $132 million) were too impossible to resist to be rejected by Tottenham. A change to a European power plant was precisely what Bale was looking for. But seven years later, Bale is back. in north London with a one-season transfer from Madrid at the age of 31, leaving his critics at Madrid with a bulging medallion that is the envy of top players.
“When you look at it, Gareth, a massive success,” Bale agent Jonathan Barnett told The Associated Press, “probably Britain’s greatest export success to football. Months) is a little unfair. If you look at him for a long time, you’d say how glorious Gareth has done.
“Unfortunately, at the end (in Madrid) Array . . . it’s a shame that others write so much about this little bit and so little about their total future. “
The long run is Tottenham, because Bale opposed West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday to help the team return to the Champions League.
“There have been things in the past, other people have said, “You have lost your love. “But it never happens,” Bale said recently. ” I think maybe it’s just that love lost at the club I’m in. “
The love affair with Tottenham can be relived with what will necessarily be his debut moment with the club, in a stadium that didn’t even exist when he last played in the same North London domain at White Hart Lane 2709 days earlier.
“He works very well, works as if he couldn’t for a long time,” Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said Friday. “He’s in good condition. “
Bale’s first appearance at Tottenham came here in August 2007, a 1-0 loss to Manchester United — Mourinho’s appearance lost 6–1 before the foreign break. Only goalkeeper Hugo Lloris remains in the team that beat Sunderland in the last day of the 2012–13 season in Bale de los Spurs’ farewell.
Mourinho now likes to have a full diversity of attack features that can get Bale started with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
“One of the first questions of my first verbal exchange with GarethArray . . . was, “What’s your favorite position?” said Mourinho. “He’s not like 10, he’s not a striker, he’s no longer on the left side as he did in the early years of his career at Southampton and Tottenham. Your favorite position is now on the right side.
“So it’s a very smart starting point for your progression here. When he reaches his continuity and reaches his overall intensity and dynamics, I think he may be the player others saw decisive when he left for Real Madrid, in a very similar position. “
It has been more than a month since Bale has enough compatibility to play for Wales, just before to end to Tottenham’s return after being ostracized in Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane only used Bale for about a hundred minutes in The League games after the pandemic ended in June and did not use him at all in the Champions League in August before a word of 45 signaled his departure.
“He wants his football,” Mourinho said, “and wants to feel more sensible again. “
Bale was characterized by never having settled entirely in Madrid or in the Spanish lifestyle because he did not speak the language and liked the quieter afternoons away from golf education, than socializing late at night with his teammates.
Perhaps Madrid – or the local media – has devoted less time at home to their ability to take effect on the most important occasions, such as the head of the extra time that allowed Madrid to finally win the 2014 Champions League. atletico Madrid. Or goals, adding a motorcycle kick, as a replacement in the 2018 final to beat Liverpool.
“He won everything, he proved he’s one of the most productive players in the world,” said Barnett, who recently sold his company to U. S. -based ICM Partners but will remain in the ICM Stellar Sports division index. genuine pressure. You don’t have to turn yourself in to anyone.
“But what you have to do is I just need you to have fun, enjoy your life. He’s been given everything else in life. Let him enjoy his last years or anything in football. “
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