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Gareth Bale’s agent told Tottenham to treat him like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to get best out of forward as he discusses Real Madrid future
Gareth Bale's agent has revealed he told Tottenham and Jose Mourinho how to get the best out of the Real Madrid loanee at the start of the season: 'Treat him like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi'.
Bale rejoined the north London side on a season-long loan from the LaLiga giants last summer, seven years after his world record £85million move to the Bernabeu.
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It's been a topsy-turvy campaign for the Wales international, who has scored 14 goals and registered three assists in 31 appearances.
Despite his impressive output, though, he has been in and out of the team and failed to hit his top level since returning to the Premier League.
Jonathan Barnett, Bale's long-term representative, conceded that the forward had 'a rough time under Mourinho.
And he says his client has proved his class when he's been allowed to play to his own strengths.
"As I said to Spurs at the beginning: 'If you give him a run, put your trust in him, let him play his own game, not tell him he's got to do this and that, treat him like a [Lionel] Messi or a [Cristiano] Ronaldo - I’m not saying he's as good - and you'll see," the agent told SNTV.
"It's been proven that every time he's been left like that, he's gone and scored a lot goals.
"He's world class. So that was the biggest mistake - I'm not going to blame anybody."
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Pressed on whether he would blame Mourinho for Bale's indifferent spell, Barnett replied: "Well, I wouldn't do that.
"He's a very successful coach... but Julius Caesar was also very good, but I don't think he would be very good with the armies now."
Discussions regarding Bale's future are continuing, although it remains very unlikely that the experienced attacker will play for Madrid again.
Barnett added: "He's still one of the best players in the world, but he's only got four games left so we will have to see.
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"It's a three-party discussion; it's us, Real Madrid and Tottenham. We have our views and we will let them know at the right time."
Asked if Bale could return to Madrid, Barnett responded: "I very much doubt that, but if they want to put him on the bench then that's fine.
"They want to put me on the bench with that salary? That's fine for me as well."
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