ESPN FC: Pressure on Bale
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- ESPN FC: Pressure on Bale
ESPN FC: Pressure on Bale
- ESPN FC: Is Bale worth the money?
ESPN FC: Is Bale worth the money?
- Bale: Spurs fans will understand
Bale: Spurs fans will understand
Gareth Bale has got the new lingo, the new shirt and the new boss. And his new Real Madrid fans are already clamouring in their thousands for the 100 million Euro midfielder.
Real Madrid assistant coach Paul Clement has told the BBC that Gareth Bale is not guaranteed a starting place despite commanding a world-record fee.
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Bale finally completed his €100 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Real on Sunday, with the Wales international unveiled at the Bernabeu the day after.
The forward was in stunning form for Spurs last season, picking up the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, but Clement has said he is not necessarily assured of a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
“There’s a lot of competition for places — no-one will be guaranteed anything,” Clement told BBC Sport. “Coach Carlo Ancelotti has a clear idea how to use him but things can change.”
Clement spoke of his and Ancelotti’s plans for Bale, who began his career as a left-back before playing a more attacking and central role for Tottenham last term.
He added: “Carlo is flexible enough to use Gareth and other players in different capacities. At Southampton, Bale played at left-back which he also did at Spurs where he became a more left-sided player.
“He recently became more central. He’s got that versatility. It’ll be interesting to see how players fit in together. We’ll be trying to find their best position and what’s best for the team as quickly as possible.
“Gareth has the goalscoring talent and ability to set up goals for others.”
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