Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has said Gareth Bale’s rapport with Cristiano Ronaldo will be key in whether the Welshman is a success at Real Madrid.
In his new autobiography, the now QPR manager, who used to manage Bale at White Hart Lane during the duo’s time at the north London club, said how he gets on with the world’s highest paid football will be essential. Following the 24-year-old’s 91 million euro transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, there has been some speculation that Ronaldo was unhappy he was no longer the centre of attention.
Redknapp also said Bale will need to adjust quickly to Spanish life, and adapt to the culture – although is is lucky to be able to rely on Paul Clement and Carlo Ancelotti to help him settle in the Spanish capital. Former Spurs team mate Luka Modric is also at the club and will be an important factor in helping Bale feel at home.
“If Ronaldo feels threatened by Gareth’s arrival, Madrid could be a lonely place so he will need to lean a lot on [Real Madrid coach Carlo] Ancelotti, who speaks good English, and Paul Clement, Carlo’s assistant, who is English,” Redknapp wrote.
He went on: “His relationship with Ronaldo is the key to it all, because if the football is going well then all the added stresses are a minor irritation and nothing more. If the football is a struggle the other aggravations appear 10 times worse.”
