Luka Modric launches staunch defence of Tottenham’s Gareth Bale during his Real Madrid career

Luka Modric has come to the defence of Gareth Bale by claiming his contributions to Real Madrid have not received the acclaim they deserve.

The Welshman left Tottenham for the Spanish capital a world record £83.7million fee in 2013 but completed a season-long loan move back to the north London side last month after being frozen out by Zinedine Zidane.

Bale won 13 trophies during his seven-year spell at Real, including four Champions League and two LaLiga titles.

It represents a feat that former Spurs and Real team-mate Modric believes is underappreciated, while the Croatian also added he did make an effort with the language. 

‘I have been here with Bale for a long time,’ Modric told El Partidazo del Cope.

‘He’s a spectacular, shy guy. The press are judging him for his recent years, but you have to remember him for everything he has given. 

‘He has not had any problems in the dressing room. He spoke Spanish with us.

‘People quickly forget what Bale has done. Gareth didn’t socialise much, but in the dressing room he was fine. I’m sorry many forgot what he has done.’

A knee injury picked up on international duty means Bale has yet to make his second Spurs debut, with the club covering half of his £500,000-per-week wages.

But speaking to Sky Sports last month he admitted his energy levels have shot up since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after feeling miserable in Madrid.

‘I am happy to be back and love this club with all my heart. I’ve had great memories here and l feel very happy and confident. My energy levels have gone up,’ Bale said.

‘It was time for a change. I wanted to change for a little while but it hadn’t materialised.

‘This club means so much to me, it gave me my opportunities, and I felt it was a good time to come back. I feel the club is still going in a great direction and I wanted to be part of that.

‘I just want to enjoy my football,’ he continued. ‘In Madrid it was a bit flat for a while, which l think everyone could see. When you are not happy, it’s difficult to play at your highest level.

‘I am very quiet, I try to keep myself as normal as l can and away from the cameras and media. Maybe that is what they didn’t like over there.’

Bale will also miss the upcoming international break with Wales, which starts with a friendly against England at Wembley on Thursday.  

But when he is back fit, his former boss Harry Redknapp has backed Bale to help Spurs win their first league title since 1961.

Redknapp, who managed Tottenham from 2008 until 2012 and led them to a Champions League quarter final in 2011, believes it will be his former club that ‘upsets’ Liverpool and Manchester City this season.

‘If you ask me, honestly, I think they will make top four. I think they could even win the league this year.

‘I know people are going to think I am crazy but I look at that squad. It looks like it is going to be an open year. Look what happened at the weekend.

‘I am telling you, that is some squad they have got. They have got cover in every position. It is a really powerful squad.

‘Go through that team. Have a look at that squad. Go through that forward line. Son Heung-min. Harry Kane. Gareth Bale.

‘Look at the strength in depth. They are full of midfield players. Defensively, they have two right backs and two left backs. They could be scary. I think Tottenham are a danger to anyone in that division this year. Lump on, whatever price they ask.

‘If anyone else is going to do it, it could be Spurs.’