Re: Gareth Bale
Wenger: I made a huge error by not signing Bale
By MIKE McGRATH
Published: 03rd June 2013
ARSENE WENGER has finally confessed he made a “huge mistake” by not signing Gareth Bale.
The Arsenal boss turned down the chance to land the Welsh wizard before he joined arch-rivals Tottenham from Southampton in 2007.
Spurs snapped him up for £5million and turned the young left-back into a world-class attacking midfielder who is now rated at a staggering £80m.
Wenger admitted: “We didn’t take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and didn’t want another left-back.
“I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at the start at Tottenham, then they moved him to midfield and he has done exceptionally well.
“The career of a player sometimes depends on playing in the right position.”
Bale, 23, is now the hottest property in world football and is wanted by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Emirates Marketing Project.
The Wales star was also crowned double Footballer of the Year after smashing 31 goals for club and country last season. And Wenger insists Bale will become one of the top five players on the planet.
The Frenchman added: “He has the potential. Now it depends on his consistency at the top level and injuries.
“If you look at Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — the two head figures of world football — they have fantastic health and don’t miss a game.
“Bale has power, pace and direct play in his game.
“I still think he is a typical flank player and they are so difficult to find. I think he is too young to move to the middle.”
Wenger scouted Bale and Theo Walcott when they were Saints teenagers, but opted to sign only Walcott.
The England winger, 24, joined Arsenal in a £12m deal and a year later Spurs snapped up Bale.
Wenger had previously played down the Gunners’ failure to snap up the Welshman.
In February, he said: “At some stage, we were on about taking the two if possible.
“But we could get Walcott and I am very happy. You’d be amazed by the number of players we should have signed. Every club misses players.”
Read more:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...by-not-signing-Gareth-Bale.html#ixzz2VClJj0Fc
--------------------------------
Wonder how many teams who still regrets not buying Bale when he was at Southampton. It was a big coup for us when we signed him as he was a highly-regarded player even then. But ofcourse, we had to wait for 3 years before he managed to show us his real quality. Not sure many teams would have been patient with him for that long. Hope he will repay us for that by staying with us long term.