Keep Bale at all costs, says Harry

Posted Sunday, October 21, 2012 by The Sun

WELSH WIZARD ... Gareth Bale

WHEN I was manager at Spurs, I once gave Gareth Bale a few days off because he had endured a heavy workload.

When he came back to the training ground he popped his head round my office door.

I asked him ‘Been anywhere nice?’ He replied ‘I went home to see my family in Wales’.

In these days of multi-millionaire footballers, I was quite surprised.

Most would head straight for the airport and an expensive holiday at their villa somewhere exotic.

But Gareth went home to Wales. Which kind of sums him and his situation up.

There’s constant chatter about Barcelona and Real Madrid chasing him.

Last week, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, his old Spurs team-mate, said he would fit in nicely in Spain and that he ‘hopes he comes’.

There are only two foreign destinations which would represent a step up for Gareth — the two Spanish giants. But he’s perfectly happy at Tottenham and I don’t think he should be in any rush to leave.

He’s at a big club, he’s loved by the fans and the manager and, most importantly, he’s the best player in the best league in the world.

I wouldn’t swap him for anyone in England right now. Would you?

It’s been happening for the past 18 months.

Go back to that night at Inter Milan when Spurs were 3-0 down and he destroyed Maicon, the best right-back in the world at the time. Gareth got a hat-trick.

I would have loved to have seen him against Chelsea yesterday but when your partner goes into labour there’s only one place to be — at her side. Playing abroad is not what it once was, with the exception of Barca and Real.

No one dreams of playing in Italy. If he flew there, he’d find the departures hall full of players wanting to come here.

Germany? No. Spain? Two fantastic clubs. England? The best league in the world.
Gareth has the lot. He can dribble, run with terrifying pace, head the ball and shoot with both feet.

You can’t tell him where his weaknesses are because there aren’t any. But if you tell him areas to improve, he accepts it with good grace.

There is nothing of the diva about him.

When there is talent like that over here, let’s not be in a mad rush to send it to Spain.

Enjoy it — even if you happen to be on the receiving end!