Gary Lineker has launched a strong defence of Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale on Twitter.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Everton striker has raved about the Wales international and has defended him from criticism from “people with absolutely no idea”.
Lineker, who also played for Barcelona in Spain, made the comments amid Bale’s controversial decision not to play for Madrid in their Champions League tie against Manchester City on Friday evening.
Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has said that he did not pick the former Tottenham star for tonight’s big game because “he preferred not to play”, as quoted on BBC Sport.
Back to the Premier League?
Bale has had injury problems in recent times, and when fit and available, he has not played much for Madrid.
The 31-year-old is still a very good player, and perhaps the former Southampton man could return to England this summer.
According to WhoScored, the winger made 12 starts and four substitute appearances in La Liga, and played just 117 minutes in the Champions League for Madrid this season.
Sport reported in April about Tottenham’s ‘recent interest’ in the winger, while 90min claimed in March that Everton were planning to make a move for the Welshman.
Bale would make Spurs or Everton a much stronger team in attack, but the question is whether they would be willing to pay the Welshman’s annual salary of €14.5 million (£13.10 million), as reported by Sport.
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