Former Chelsea and Aston Villa forward Tony Cascarino has blasted Gareth Bale for what he feels is a lack of desire from the Real Madrid star’s part to prove himself again.
The Welsh superstar has not played regularly for the Spanish giants this season which has been partly due to injury (transfermarkt) but was also overlooked for selection during the weekend’s win against cross-city rivals Atletico (Evening Standard).
Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has suggested that the 30-year-old is happy to stay in the Spanish capital (talkSPORT).
The Welshman was linked heavily with a return to Spurs in the final few days of the transfer window (The Times) only for the speculation was squashed by Barnett.
Cascarino questioned why Bale hasn’t returned to the Premier League if he had the hunger to prove himself again at the top level.
Speaking to talkSPORT’s Weekend Sports Breakfast, he said: “I do question Gareth’s hunger to play football at the moment because if you are 30 and nearly 31 and you are abroad and you are not playing and the club have made it quite clear they want you out the door. Just go and play football elsewhere.
“Take a cut in your wages and go and play football. I want to see if he’s got the same motivation, desire to be as good as he can be and prove that he can just leave Madrid and come back and still be a great player.
MORE SPURS STORIES
“Ronaldo’s done that. He left Madrid, at a much older age by the way, and still gone to Juve and still got goals.
“I look at Bale and I think ‘why have you not pushed this move’. If Real Madrid want you out the door and it’s over wages tell them ‘I’ll take a cut. I want to play for whoever, Manchester United, Spurs. I want to go and play football. I’m not going to sit on this bench and wait for you to make a decision on me’.
“I just don’t understand why he wouldn’t do that. He’s made a king’s ransom and he’ll get well paid if he goes somewhere else.
“It’s not like he’s going to go from £600,000 to £50,000-a-week. I’m told he loves Madrid. The life of Madrid for his family and everybody. He’s not there to be on holiday. He’s there to play football, so come back here and play football.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Bale has essentially wasted the last year and a half of his career as he has opted to stay put at Madrid despite not being wanted at the club. The fact that he is prepared to sit on the bench in his peak years as a footballer says all that one needs to know about the forward’s hunger and desire.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
