Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has joked that “if Gareth Bale is not comfortable at Real Madrid, we have a place for him here”.
A mix of injuries, poor form and accusations of selfishness have overshadowed the winger’s second season at the Santiago Bernabeu since his €100m arrival in 2013, and the Argentine admits Spurs would welcome him back with open arms in a heartbeat.
“If Bale is not comfortable at [Real] Madrid, we have a place for him here. If he wants to come back here we are open to signing him,” the former Espanyol boss was quoted as saying but the London Evening Standard.
“But seriously, it’s not easy when you go to a club like Real Madrid. Bale has the quality to have success.
“Zinedine Zidane had a difficult time at first, when he moved to Madrid in 2001, and he was criticised – but he needed time to adapt.
“It’s not easy. After being here for two and a half years, I can understand why it is very difficult for English players in Spain.
“There is the siesta [afternoon nap], people go to sleep at midnight, so it’s very difficult to adapt.
“It’s easier when you come from Spain to England but maybe when you go to Spain as an English player, you need one or two seasons to adapt.
“It’s better in England to develop a passion for your job as a player or a manager but for life in Spain, the weather, the culture, it’s difficult to adapt. All you need is time.”
