Gareth Bale is STILL one of the world’s top three players when on form, says team-mate Casemiro

Gareth Bale is STILL one of the world’s top three players when on form, says Real Madrid team-mate Casemiro despite Welshman sitting on the sidelines under Zinedine Zidane

  • Casemiro believes that Gareth Bale is still in the top three players in the world
  • He claims that his team-mate still has a future at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium  
  • Casemiro praises Bale for his ability to score goals in ‘Champions League finals’
  • He claims Bale is ‘working’ hard and has the ‘support’ of the players and coach 

Gareth Bale is in the top three players in the world according to team-mate Casemiro, who insists the Welshman is still ‘very important’ to Real Madrid.

Bale has enjoyed a trophy-laden seven years at Real Madrid since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in a then world-record £86million transfer, but it is no secret that his position at Santiago Bernabeu is under threat.

With Real Madrid returning to Champions League action next week, Casemiro believes Bale still has a future at the club as he praises his team-mate for his ability to score goals in important ‘finals.’

Team-mate Casemiro believes that Gareth Bale is still in the top three players in the world

‘He’s working,’ the Brazilian told Esporte Interativo. ‘He knows it’s not the best time in his career, but he has our support, that of the coach and of the club.

‘He’s very important for us, he can spring a surprise at any time, and he’s already shown that. He’s a decisive player who scores goals in Champions League finals.

‘We have to be honest and say that he’s not at his best, but when he is, he’s incredible and in the top three in the world. I have a lot of love for him, and that’s why I try to take care of him as much as I can.’

Casemiro (above) has praised Bale for his ability to score goals in 'Champions League finals'

Casemiro (above) has praised Bale for his ability to score goals in ‘Champions League finals’

Bale is hoping to be in Zinedine Zidane's squad as they take on Manchester City at the Etihad

Bale is hoping to be in Zinedine Zidane’s squad as they take on Manchester City at the Etihad

Bale will be in contention for Real Madrid’s Champions League clash as Zidane’s men look to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit to Manchester City.

Should Real Madrid be successful in their trip to the Etihad Stadium on Friday, they will progress to the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League but it remains to be seen how much of a prominent role Bale will have.   

 Ex-Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy believes a return to the Premier League would help Bale rediscover his ‘passion’ for the game.

Writing in his column for Sportsmail, Murphy said: ‘He’s done tremendously well in Madrid, scored big goals in finals and won trophies, so the club agreed to reward him with a longer deal. 

‘We moan about players being disloyal so Bale can be congratulated for wanting to stay. He probably loves the club and lifestyle in Madrid, if not the manager.

‘But there does come a point where you are wasting months and years of your career, and passion for the game should overtake everything else.’ 

Zidane's men will be looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit to Manchester City

Zidane’s men will be looking to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit to Manchester City

Danny Murphy believes Bale should return to the Premier League to rediscover his 'passion'

Danny Murphy believes Bale should return to the Premier League to rediscover his ‘passion’

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