Real Betis midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has revealed that he never thought his former Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Gareth Bale had it in him to play for Real Madrid.
Van der Vaart, who joined Spurs from Real Madrid in 2010, played two seasons with Bale at White Hart Lane before moving to his former club Hamburg in 2012.
On the other hand, Bale was snapped up by Real Madrid on a world record deal a year later.
And the Dutchman, who feels Bale is not on the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, explained that it came as a surprise to him after Los Blancos signed the Welsh international from Tottenham.
“I never thought Bale would end up playing at Madrid”, he told French broadcaster Canal +.
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“Bale isn't like Ronaldo or Messi, that's another level."
Bale, whose contract with Real Madrid runs until 2019, has thus far amassed 99 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 41 times and providing 36 assists.
The 26-year-old winger has helped the Spanish outfit to a Champions League, a FIFA Club World Club, a UEFA Super Cup and a Copa del Rey.
