Harry Redknapp has said questioned whether Jose Mourinho was particularly keen on bringing Gareth Bale back to Tottenham and suggested that it could have been Daniel Levy who was instrumental in the Welshman’s signing.
Bale has not made the expected impact since his return to Tottenham, having started just one Premer League match this season (transfermarkt).
The Real Madrid man did display some signs of his old self during his performance against Wycombe on Monday after showing he was more willing to take players on than he has so far this season.
However, Mourinho only brought the 31-year-old on in the 81st minute against Liverpool despite the home side being 3-1 down, with the Tottenham boss deciding to introduce Erik Lamela and Harry Winks at half time.
Redknapp suggested that Mourinho may not have liked of what he has seen of the winger in training.
The former Tottenham boss told Stadium Astro (as relayed by Goal.com): “If he isn’t going to do it at Tottenham, where is he going to do it? Does he have to take the easy option of going to America or China to play?
“He is obviously not showing a lot to Jose to make him want to play him. He is bringing people on who, I’m not being disrespectful, couldn’t lace his boots. He’s been on another planet to them as a player.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“I don’t know whether he was Jose’s signing. Jose might think he doesn’t fancy him now, because he never plays him.
“To bring him on with 10 minutes to go was a token effort, the game was gone. To bring on people like Lamela before him, I doubt very much whether he was a Jose signing – it was more Daniel [Levy] bringing him back.”
Redknapp also admitted that it looks as if Bale has lost the running power and athleticism that made him unplayable during his first spell at Spurs.
The 73-year-old added: “He has got to show that he is worth a place. He has got to show that he can still do it, in training or whatever.
“I haven’t seen him explode, what he used to have. He was unplayable, he had a spell for me at Tottenham and then at Real Madrid where he was incredible. He hasn’t shown that.
“He looks like has hasn’t got that running power, that pace, at the moment. Everyone has a certain day when they hit a brick wall, maybe he has.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I believe there were enough signs in Bale’s performance against Wycombe to suggest that the Welshman is gaining his fitness back and is starting to become more confident in his body. With Kane potentially out for a few weeks, I believe Bale could have a big part to play as Mourinho does not seem to trust Carlos Vinicius.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
