Former Tottenham
midfielder Rafael van
der Vaart believes
Real Madrid overpaid
by spending 100
million euros on
Gareth Bale.
Van der Vaart spent
two years at Madrid
as well, but he was in
in and out of the
starting XI, particularly
in his final season,
and believes Bale will
have to adjust to the
heightened expectations. The current Hamburg
playmaker played alongside the Welshman for
Tottenham between 2010-2012 but doesn't feel
the pricetag reflects his ability.
"One hundred million euros is a bit much," van der
Vaart told NOS . "You should ask yourself if a
player is worth that amount at all. I've played with
him, but I couldn't see that he was worth 100
million back then. He did develop quite good, but
still he has to prove his worth at Real.
"I know Bale as a very nice and sweet guy so I
think he would fit best in England. A club like Real
Madrid is different and there is a lot of pressure
over there. But maybe he can surprise everybody
at Real."
Van der Vaart also believes Bale is below the level
of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but added
that he hopes the 24-year-old succeeds in the
Spanish capital.
"You can't compare him with Messi and Ronaldo,
because they're from another level," van der Vaart
said. "If you make so many goals for so many
years and win all these prizes they have won, it's
not fair to compare anybody else with those guys.
"I've been in his situation, only Real paid a little
less money for me back then. I would like to wish
him all the best at Real Madrid, because Gareth is
a great lad."
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