Former Real Madrid boss John Toshack says the reported €100m fee his former club paid for Gareth Bale is not the player’s fault.
“You can’t blame Gareth if the clubs and their Presidents arrived at that figure, it’s their fault,” maintained Toshack in declarations to La Xarxa.
“I don’t want to go into the ins and outs of what he is worth, but what I do know is that Bale is not very far from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s level.
“Gareth had the misfortune not to have trained over the summer because of the soap opera between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, but he is a fantastic player.
“You need not have any doubts about Gareth Bale, I can assure you of that.”
Toshack, who had two spells in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu and managed Bale when he was Welsh national team boss, also commented on the situation the club’s youngsters find themselves in.
“If people like Asier Illaramendi, Isco or [reserve team] Castilla’s youngsters look at Ancelotti and Zidane’s bench then it is imposing.
“At the moment it is a difficult time for them because Barca are going well, with Madrid behind them in the table, but they must be given time,” insisted the Welshman.
