Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane urged Tottenham to allow Gareth Bale to speak to Spanish club about a move but Glenn Hoddle believes it is too early to make the switch.
Real are hoping to lure the Wales ace to the Bernabeu this summer and are reportedly prepared to offer a world-record fee in excess of £85million in order to sign him.
So far, however, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has refused the 24-year-old permission to speak to the La Liga giants and is standing firm, saying Bale is not for sale as he has three years left on his contract at White Hart Lane.
Zidane, though, believes his current club need to think about Bale’s apparent desire to make the move and has urged Levy to have a rethink.
He said: “If he’s expressed a desire to join Madrid, then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime – and it’s understandable Gareth doesn’t want to miss out on it.”
Hoddle does not agree with the Frenchman and echoed another former Tottenham boss, David Pleat, who recently said the former Southampton man is too young at 24 to make such a big move abroad.
Hoddle told talkSPORT: “It’s a difficult one but if you’re talking about the lad himself, I would definitely, if I was advising him, I would say he’s not quite ready to go abroad.
“I think he’s had a sensational year, for him to pick the reins up in that form would be nigh-on impossible straight away. I don’t feel he’s quite ready off the pitch to make that move.”
Real remain hopeful they will eventually get their man before the transfer window closes on September 2 but a deal remains some way off still at this point.
Bale has been struggling with a minor muscle injury in pre-season but was thought to be in line to feature in Spurs’ friendly against Monaco this weekend, although with all the ongoing speculation over his future it remains to be seen if he will play against the Ligue 1 newcomers.
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