Gareth Bale – would he fit in as a Real Madrid player?

Considering both players are attack minded, I will concentrate on the attacking side of their statistics, league statistics are in brackets (shots, KP and assists are league only):

Ronaldo (2008-09)

Appearances: 53 (33) Goals: 26 (18) GPG: 0.49 (0.55) Shots: 107 Key Passes: 53 Assists 6

Bale (2012-13)

Appearances: 44 (33) Goals: 26 (21) GPG: 0.59 (0.64) Shots: 165 Key Passes: 75 Assists: 4

So, from a little deduction, Real are (if statistics is all went go by) buying a player who has a better goals-per-game ratio playing for a weaker team than a Ronaldo in a Manchester United team did. However, Ronaldo seemed more efficient with his choices on the pitch, scoring three less goals from 58 less shots and creating two more goals from less key passes (obvious variables being team mates ability to score said chance). So, after the statistics, it would seem reasonable for Real to spend a fairly equal amount on Bale as they did Ronaldo, so let’s say they do just that.

So, Gareth Bale, once of Southampton fame has become the world’s most expensive player – In a team of superstars, where on earth would he go?

We can only suggest what formation Ancelotti will pluck for as Real manager when the season begins, but we could start by looking at his favoured formation from his days at PSG, the rather narrow 4-3-2-1:

If we assume the back line are Arbeloa, Marcelo, Ramos, and Pepe. There are positions in the team for which you could see Ancelotti struggling to accommodate players in, for example, if you look at the front three you would assume that Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo would get the nod, but what about Di Maria and Ozil? Isco is not as comfortable deep lying but may have to play there considering his price tag, but he could be wasted and what about Modric, the player so desperately coveted by Mourinho last season?

Even though there is an argument for Benzema being dropped due to “only” scoring 20 in 50 games, which may not be enough to keep him in that front three. Modric only scored four, Isco scored nine (for Malaga) as did Di Maria and Ozil scored ten, so they need to have these players scoring more, or, replace them with a player who will.

Bale is far more comfortable now playing in the middle of the pitch now than his early days after Villas-Boas gave him the freedom of White Hart Lane to strut his stuff, and with the majority of his goals coming from surging down the middle, he would be ideal in that more central position off of the striker.

You could see a midfield three of Alonso, Ilarramendi, and possibly Khederia, who would probably get game time due to Ancleotti’s fascination with powerful, tough midfielders, see Gattuso at AC Milan or Thiago Motta at PSG.

In conclusion, Bale would fit into their system, a strong direct player who is very Ronaldo-esque, he could cover the overlapping runs of the left back or the right back (whatever side he plays), something of which Ronaldo lacks and would be a goal threat. Lets see if he has the “Curse of Bale” hanging over him if he moves, for those who remember, Bale did not register a win in a Tottenham shirt until his 25^th appearance, now that would be the worse start to a Real Madrid career since a certain Jonathan Woodgate, the last British player to move to Madrid.