So why should it be any different this year? Each year Gareth Bale is touted to leave Tottenham and head to Spain, but Gareth especially should realise one thing...
How many players from Great Britain have made it in Spain, Italy or pretty much anywhere abroad. If anything it was the destruction of their career
It’s not that you have to be the world’s best player its more (I believe) about the technical side of the game that stops such players being a success abroad.
Gareth is fantastic at running down the wing, has some dazzling skills and a great shot, but I do not believe he has the technical ability to make it outside of the Premier League in the likes of Spain or Italy (Germany yes).
People say how the Italian and Spanish league is much slower than the Premier League and they are absolutely right, but it is because they play a very technical game. How often do you see the long ball played in La Liga or Serie A?
If you are raised a particular way, to play the game and have done so for years it becomes difficult to adapt after 15+ years of being shaped into a particular player. Players coming into the premier league, some slip in others just don't and never will, but it does not make those that do better than those that don't. Every players talent only suit certain teams, certain styles and certain leagues.
So for me this is a good thing as although Gareth is one of the best players in the country and our squad, I feel that deep down he is sensible enough to stay put..... for the time being. If you look at players that were silly enough to move to the likes of City and Chelsea it destroyed their progression (Shaun Wright-Phillip and Adam Johnson are big examples of this)
In order to get a feel for different leagues Gareth must concentrate on getting Spurs into the champions league to sample the styles of the opposition. Once he has done this (over 2-3 years) only then can he decide whether the league is for him. By this stage Gareth will be 25-26 getting into the prime and that is when the big contracts come out and demand is high. In the mean time he can play for Spurs, have some fun, learn the game and build on his career. Let’s face it the money is good enough at the moment, so why force things? Oh plus it seems that his contract is improved every year anyway.
AVB made his intentions clear by stating on the clubs website;
"Like all of our key players, Gareth is on a long-term contract as we continue to build for the future and his progression will be of benefit to our team. He is an important part of our future and we have no intention of letting any of our top players go."
However if the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona do their usual tapping up and destroy the relationship between player and their club (fans and staff), then we could see a different story should a "big" offer come from the supposed European giants. I don't see the point in moving to City, Utd or Chelsea. A players career is not recognised by his teams achievements its his personal achievements. Gazza, Shearer and Le Tissier are perfect examples of this. Yes we remember that they did not have huge honour lists to their name, but we remember them for being a player with class and skill.
All it will come down to in the end is personal belief, self worth and whether the others teams can brain wash him with money.
I would like to think that Bale would give Spurs more than Modric did and see what we have done for his career.
Come on you Spurs!!
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