Gareth Bale gave Real Madrid a lot and remains a “world-class talent”, according to his former coach Juande Ramos.
The Wales international completed a return to Tottenham last week on a season-long loan, seven years after swapping the two clubs for a world record fee at the time.
He won 13 trophies during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, including four Champions League titles, but he has struggled for appearances the last couple of seasons.
Madrid paid little tribute to Bale after his departure, and Ramos has suggested the 31-year-old deserves more respect.
“He is a player I like,” Ramos, who coached the Tottenham striker and also managed Madrid for six months, told Radio Marca.
“I think he has also given Real Madrid a lot. He has tremendous power and a magical left foot. He is a very useful football player and one of the few with world-class talent.”
Bale scored 105 goals and contributed 57 assists in 251 appearances for Madrid, but was limited to 20 out last season after falling out of favor with boss Zinedine Zidane.
“Inside Madrid, they want to know the problems he may have had with Zidane,” Ramos said. “But I’m sure he has his own side of the story.”
Tottenham also signed Sergio Reguilon from Madrid in a firm deal last week, and Ramos has tipped the left-back to become a success in north London.
“For now, it’s a populated position with [Ferland] Mendy and Marcelo. If they have made a decision to let Sergio go, it is because they received a good amount of money, ”he said.
“Reguilon had less chance of minutes with Real Madrid than the other two and I think he will adapt well to the Spurs. He is a player with great potential.”
