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Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle warned club fans to be prepared for a watered-down version of Gareth Bale after he sealed the club’s return from Real Madrid.
ale has signed a one-year loan deal to end his increasingly strained relationship with Real Madrid and his head coach Zinedine Zidane, and Hoddle told Independent.ie that the return of the four-time La Liga champion Champions Tottenham gives their coach José Mourinho a real chance to end the club’s long wait for silverware.
Spurs have not won a trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008 and have not been crowned England champions since 1961, however former England and Spurs coach Hoddle suggests that Bale, who jumped to international fame at the club before his £ 86 million. Departing for Real Madrid in 2013, he may not be on display as he seeks to regain his form and fitness at the age of 31.
“We are all excited about this transfer, but Spurs fans must realize that we are not going to see the Gareth Bale who left Tottenham or even the player we saw winning trophies and scoring incredible goals every week for Real Madrid.” Hoddle said. , speaking at a BT Sport event.
“He may not be that infield player at this stage in his career. We may only see that kind of form of him in small periods and he would have some concerns about the player that we are going to see.
“If Gareth were a Formula 1 car, we’d say he hasn’t done a lot of miles on the clock in recent years. We just don’t know how his engine is. Will it run at the same pace as? What did he do when Gareth Bale was one of the best? players of the world? That is what we are waiting to know.
“This is where José and the Tottenham medical staff have done such an important job of getting him in shape, playing with him at the right time and getting him out of more than 30 games at a high level this season.
“What I hope is that his lack of football in recent years means that he has a lot left in his legs and a lot to show, so that has to be positive for Spurs and José as they look to make this work.”
Hoddle believes Bale can be used as an impact substitute for Mourinho, with the presence he would bring to a game if the Spurs need a push to give the team extra dimension.
“When you look down on your bench and you’re 1-0 down in a game, you need to have game changers to turn to and Jose has it now,” he added.
“Harry Kane may not be able to play every game this season, so he could be an option from the bench, just like Lucas Moura, Dele Alli, Heung min-Son or Steven Bergwijn. That’s serious firepower. and it has to be exciting that Mourinho has it at his disposal. “
Spurs unveiled Bale as their newest signing alongside full-back Sergio Reguilón, and both players came to the club from Real Madrid in a daring double hit.
“I’m here to win trophies,” declared Bale. “I’ve won a lot since I was here before and it helps a lot to know that you can do it in big games.
“I always hoped that one day I could return to Tottenham and this is the right time to do so.”
Southampton v Spurs is live on BT Sport on Sunday and is available to Sky customers in Ireland with a Sports Extra package.
Online editors
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