• Premier League

Toshack says Bale better than Neymar

ESPN staff
June 8, 2013
Gareth Bale has been tipped to reach the heights of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi if he plays Champions League football next season © Getty Images
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Former Real Madrid manager John Toshack believes Gareth Bale is already a better player than Barcelona forward Neymar, claiming the Tottenham winger could be "worth €100m".

Toshack, who is currently the manager of Azerbaijan side Khazar Lankaran, also coached Madrid twice in the 1990s and had a glittering playing career for Cardiff, Liverpool and Swansea.

The ex-Wales international heaped praise on his compatriot, claiming Bale's success in the "competitive" Premier League makes him more established than Neymar.

"For me, Gareth is better than Neymar, because he is playing in a very competitive League," Toshack told Punto Pelota. "With Neymar we will have to wait and see. If there is someone who is worth €100m, then it is Bale."

During his six-year tenure at the helm of the Wales national team, Toshack handed Bale his international debut and he insists the PFA Player of the Year requires Champions League football to reach his peak.

"His debut? He had just turned 17 and had a tremendous future. I had never seen a player like him," Toshack said. "Even a blind man can see that Bale has something different. He is a player for all conditions, introverted and a great professional.

"He is very modest. The injuries he suffered when younger have seen him grow stronger. They talk about Leo [Messi], we have not seen anyone at his level. Then with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, whose power is not seen every day.

"Bale is catching up to these two. He is alongside the Ronaldos and the Messis. He could end up at one of the big two in Spain. He has to play in the Champions League."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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