Manchester United winger Daniel James says it is 'silly' for him to be compared to Gareth Bale.
James, 22, joined United from Swansea City for £15million rising to £18m at the start of last summer despite having never played in the Premier League, but has enjoyed an encouraging first season in the top flight.
Bale, 30, was on the brink of leaving Real Madrid for Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in July but is still at the Bernabeu nearly seven years on from a world record £85m move from Tottenham.
The Wales international has lifted four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, the Copa del Rey and La Liga title in a trophy-laden career in Spain, but Bale's reluctance to assimilate to Spanish culture has driven a wedge between him and Madrid fans.
James is expected to line up alongside Bale at the European Championship next year but literally laughed at the comparison between the pair.
"I don't think you can compare me to him, what he's done," James told Sky Sports. "To play with him at Wales is obviously amazing. Anyone that doesn't know him, he's such a great guy and just a normal guy, really. He's great with the youngsters, he's great around the place, but to be compared with him is a bit too much, I think.
"For what he's done in his career, how he went from a left-back to a left midfielder to win the Champions League, it's just amazing. Players like him, you obviously look up to, but I think being compared to him is a bit silly."
United wanted to sign Bale from Southampton in 2007 but the Saints accepted a bid from Spurs without informing a miffed Sir Alex Ferguson. Bale claimed the PFA Player of the Year award on two occasions with Spurs before he left for Madrid in 2013.
Despite the inevitability of a move to Madrid, United offered £86m for Bale seven years ago and were keen on signing him in 2017 but received little encouragement from the Welshman's camp.
