• La Liga

Bale fee 'incomprehensible' - Zidane

ESPN staff
September 9, 2013
Doubts cast over Financial Fair Play


Zinedine Zidane has labelled Gareth Bale's world record move to Real Madrid as 'incomprehensible'.

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However, the World Cup winner admitted no player was worth the reported £86 million Madrid paid Tottenham - not even himself at the peak of his powers.

Bale completed his move to the Spanish capital earlier this month with the Wales international the latest player to join Madrid as the most expensive player in the world.

But when asked if Bale was worth the astronomical price, Zidane, a former holder of the world record fee himself, said only time will tell.

"You need to ask that question in a year's time," he told Canal Plus. "Ten years ago, they bought me for €75 million [£63m] and I said I wasn't worth it.

"Today, I tend to say a player is not worth that. Two clubs agree on a price and no-one is forcing the other to do anything. That's football. Unfortunately, it's incomprehensible with what's happening today to pay so much.

"My role will certainly be to tell him that he plays as he knows how to, to not put too much pressure on himself. He has an incredible potential but he still has room for improvement."

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