The much-maligned Spaniard wanted Bale to play further up field long before he started to.
Wales’ Gareth Bale reacts
Former Tottenham Hotspur coach Gus Poyet has been commenting on Gareth Bale’s stint at White Hart Lane.
Bale is of course now one of the best footballers in the world and is proving that consistently with both Real Madrid and the Welsh national team.
But there was a time when he could not get a game at Tottenham Hotspur.
Wales’ Gareth Bale
He arrived at the club a left-back from Southampton and struggled to find his best form during his early time at White Hart Lane.
One of his managers was Juande Ramos, for whom former Spurs midfielder Poyet was assistant manager.
Poyet, speaking to El Transistor and quoted by ESPN, claims that Ramos wanted to play Bale further up the pitch – but the young Welshman wanted to remain at left-back:
“Juande Ramos tried to convince him to play further forward, but he wanted to be a full-back, with lots of space in front to break into.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos talks to Gareth Bale (L) during the game
“He defended as much as he had to — same as Roberto Carlos. I would never have imagined that Gareth would end up playing as he does now.
“His last season in England was amazing. He was clearly player of the year that season. And now at Madrid. There was a very quick change in his game. He had a good shot, but not like now, and he was not such a good header of the ball.”
Of course he started moving up the pitch under Harry Redknapp and was eventually transformed into an attacker by Andre Villas-Boas.
New Tottenham manager Juande Ramos (L) and first team coach Gustavo Poyet (R) during training
He has since gone on to amass a record of 146 goals in his career so far and is looking every inch a forward player.
Tottenham fans will often look back on Bale with nostalgia and wish him well at the Spanish super-club – whilst always wondering if he might ever return to White Hart Lane.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
