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Matt Ritchie compares Oliver Burke to Gareth Bale

Nottingham Forests' Oliver Burke scores their third goal (REUTERS)
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Oliver Burke completed a big-money move from Nottingham Forest to RB Leipzig at the end of last month.

Newcastle's Matt Ritchie scores their second goal from the penalty spotNewcastle’s Matt Ritchie compared Oliver Burke to Gareth Bale

Newcastle United playmaker and Scotland international Matt Ritchie has compared Oliver Burke to Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, as quoted by Goal.

Burke became Scotland’s most expensive player when he signed for RB Leipzig from Nottingham Forest for a fee believed to be in the region of £13 million.

Nottingham Forest's Oliver Burke celebrates scoring their third goal Oliver Burke

Ritchie drew comparison’s between the 19-year-old and the Real Madrid star, but insisted that Burke is his own man and can forge an individual career without being compared to others, as quoted by Goal:

“I think if you look at his stature he is very much like Gareth Bale. I don’t want to build him up to be Gareth Bale because he is his own man and his own player.”

Bale, 27, moved to the Spanish capital from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 under the heavy pressure of being the most expensive player on the planet at the time.

Football Soccer - Real Madrid v Celta VigoReal Madrid superstar Gareth Bale

While Burke’s transfer fee pales in comparison to the Welshman’s, it brings it’s own individual pressure with it, and many have criticised his decision to move to the newly-promoted Bundesliga outfit.

It is quite incredible to think that despite Burke’s £13 million fee he has only made 12 league starts in his fledgling career, but if he can go on to achieve even half of what Bale has, that transfer fee will turn out to be fantastic business for the German side.

Watford's Adlene Guedioura in action with Nottingham Forest's Oliver Burke Oliver Burke became Scotland’s most expensive player after his one to RB Leipzig