Shaka Hislop has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur were used by Gareth Bale as a stepping stone.
The 31-year-old has this week revealed his plan to go back to Real Madrid following what’s been a disappointing overall return to Spurs on a season-long loan.
Bale has only started six Premier League games under Jose Mourinho this season, making just 12 appearances in that competition overall.
There’s been occasional flashes of his brilliance here and there but for the most part, the Wales international does not look the same player who ripped England’s top flight to shreds en route to securing an £86 million move to Real – a world record – back in 2013.
But he has still done enough this season to ensure he’ll make Wales’ Euro 2020 squad and that, according to Hislop, was the sole reason behind wanting to return to Tottenham.
He told ESPN: “So you know what that means to him and the opportunity to go back to Spurs kind of fed into that. And that’s the only takeaway [from his comments] – happy to pick up his money, Wales is important and Spurs are just kind of a stepping stone, which we kind of knew.”
Tottenham have the option to keep Bale for a second season but it looks like the player himself has no intention of staying with the Lilywhites.
And frankly, Daniel Levy should reassess his reported desire to keep him.
Spurs’ season is all about winning the League Cup final – against Manchester City – and finising in the top four and unless Bale plays a big, big role in helping Mourinho’s side achieve both, it isn’t worth continuing this agreement.
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