Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has responded to Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham, saying that it is a pity the Welshman is having to go back as he joined the Madrid club with many “thinking that he would be better than Cristiano Ronaldo”, according to Goal.com.
The La Liga side signed the 31-year-old in a world-record transfer in 2013 from the north London side. They expended a €100 million to secure the services of the winger, with the worth of the deal exceeding that for Ronaldo in 2009.
The expectations from him were huge, and the initial signs were very promising. However, he faced form and fitness issues and later couldn’t assume the role of club talisman following the exit of Ronaldo for Juventus in 2018.
He is now set to return to his former club as Spurs look to secure his services on an initial loan deal.
Calderon expressed his opinions to the Daily Star: “I think it’s been a pity. He came with the handicap that we paid for him more than for Cristiano Ronaldo and that meant that he was under scrutiny all the time.
“They were thinking that he would be better than Cristiano Ronaldo, and on top of that he had many injuries and he was unlucky.
“It happens so many times that a player who is successful in one club is not in another one. I don’t know, really it hasn’t been a successful signing, which is a pity because, as I say, the player is a very good player.”
During his time in Madrid, Bale clocked 251 appearances in all competitions, with the Welshman smashing 105 goals and creating 68 assists. With Los Blancos, he also won four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles.
