Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claims constant comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo were at the heart of Gareth Bale's downfall ahead of his expected return to Tottenham Hotspur.
Bale is on the brink of completing a season-long loan to Spurs after a difficult couple of years with the Spanish champions, with the player at the heart of a public fall out with Real boss Zinedine Zidane, while also enduring a turbulent relationship with the club's fans and local media.
The winger was effectively exiled from the first team as a result, and Calderon admits that a move to Spurs was the best solution, before saying that the club will likely be the main beneficiaries from the deal.
“For the player, it was the only solution," he told Sky Sports.
"I think it’s the best one. He wasn’t playing here. The fact is the coach didn’t count on him.
"I’m sure that Tottenham is going to have a good player again. He hasn’t forgotten how to play. He came here as the MVP of the Premier league.
"Mourinho is keen on the player. He likes playing counter-attacking football and he can be a perfect player for that tactic."
Bale won two La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during his time in the Spanish capital, but Calderon has nevertheless suggested that the Welshman's time at the Bernabeu will not be regarded as a success.
He believes that constant comparisons with the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo were at the heart of his apparent struggles.
“He has great speed as everyone knows and it’s been a pity that he couldn’t be successful here, but the main problem I think was the comparison, inevitable, with Cristiano Ronaldo. We paid more for Gareth Bale than for Cristiano.
"The comparison was inevitable. He had many injuries and was unlucky."
Nevertheless, he insists Bale's ability is undoubted, adding that Spurs are likely to be the big winners from the deal.
He continued: ”He had some very, very good performances, and we all remember the overhead kick goal in Ukraine to win the Champions League.
“So, I wish him all the best. It’s what we do at Real Madrid when any player leaves.
“For sure it’s Tottenham [who are the winners] here. But it’s clear that after not playing, Real Madrid is alleviating the current account expenses because it was a lot of money being paid to the player.
“The winner is also the player. The player’s going to recover his life as a football player again”
