Premier League Better For Gareth Bale – Van Der Vaart

Ex-Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart is certain that former teammate Gareth Bale will thrive better in the Premier League.

Real Madrid forward Bale has struggled to earn a regular starting role at the club this season despite the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale were teammates at North London club Tottenham Hotspur before the latter left to join European champions Real Madrid in a world-record move in the summer of 2013.

Gareth Bale became the most expensive player then after Real Madrid splashed £85m to secure his transfer from Spurs.

Van der Vaart spoke about Bale and his Real Madrid struggles in a chat with Spanish media outlet Cadena Ser.

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According to him, he has been surprised at how Gareth Bale has not been a regular fixture in the Real Madrid squad under manager Santiago Solari.

Gareth Bale has been linked with a move to West London giants Chelsea as well as Manchester United.

Bale has been more of an impact player in recent matches under Santiago Solari this season.

Former club winger Solari was promoted into the first team from Real Madrid Castilla as the replacement for the sacked Julen Lopetegui.

Former Spanish national team coach Lopetegui had been appointed in the summer after Zinedine Zidane quit the job last summer.

Lopetegui was sacked after just three months in charge.