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Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images

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Dimitar Berbatov discusses Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

Dimitar Berbatov has told TalkSPORT (Monday, 9:40am) that he is delighted to see Gareth Bale return to Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid – stating that he did not want to see the Welshman sitting on the bench at Real Madrid.

Bale, 31, has re-signed for Tottenham on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid – seven years after leaving Spurs to join Real Madrid. The Welshman, though, may even rejoin for a second season, while his Real contract only runs until 2022.

The 83-time Wales international managed just 20 appearances under Zinedine Zidane last season – but it did see Bale surpass 250 appearances in all competitions. In his 251 outings, he has scored 105 goals and created 68 more.

Spurs icon Berbatov was asked about the return of Bale and he spoke about his former teammate, stating his delight to see the ex-Southampton man back in north London – instead of rotting on the sidelines at Real.

Tottenham Hotspur Unveil New Signing Gareth Bale
(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

“He was very young [when he first joined]. I’m not gonna lie, from the first moment he was going to be a superstar? No, I didn’t think so. But he was a young boy with ambition, now he is one of the best in the world.

“I am glad he is back at Spurs. I want to see him play and not sitting on the bench at Real. Familiar surroundings, players that gave him the scene when he was first at Spurs. Hopefully he is back flying again.”

TBR’s view – Who does Bale replace?

While Bale regains full fitness, Jose Mourinho has plenty of thinking to do. Does he simply bring Bale into the starting eleven and replace Lucas Moura, to form a front three with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min?

But there are other options. In his last season under Andre Villas-Boas, Bale played as a 10 and it was easily his most influential season in a Spurs shirt. Similarly, a three-man defence could see Bale partner Harry Kane up front.

Mourinho has options, but the pressure is on to get the best out of Bale.

UEFA Champions League"Paris St Germain v Real Madrid"
(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)