Premier League defenses will be scared of Bale, says Murphy

Danny Murphy believes Premier League defenses will be ‘scared’ once Gareth Bale plays for Tottenham again after completing his loan move.

Bale sealed a return to Tottenham on Saturday on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid. It will be the first time in seven years he’s played for the north London outfit, and the excitement is already mounting.

Not only was the 31-year-old a resounding success during his first spell with Spurs, but he comes back as a proven winner after helping Real Madrid claim four Champions League crowns and two LaLiga titles. He even bagged 105 goals and 68 assists in just 251 outings.

Now Bale is back with the Lilywhites, hoping for a fresh start after a less than amicable ending to his Los Blancos career.

“Gareth Bale has that ‘wow’ factor, something only a few very special players in the world have got,” Murphy wrote in his BBC column.

“When they play, they have a different aura and a presence on the pitch that affects everyone – even before they kick a ball.

“Bale will not just have a positive effect on his new Tottenham teammates and give them a massive confidence boost, he will change the way opposition players feel about facing Spurs.

“They will be worried when they see his name on the team sheet and then, when they face him on the pitch, I can tell you now they will drop off five yards because they will be scared of him – whoever they are.”

The moment @GarethBale11 stepped out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the very first time… #BaleIsBack ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/ndIQy2WBgy

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 19, 2020

Bale managed an impressive 56 goals and 58 assists in 203 games during his first spell with the club, paving the way towards his then world-record €101m transfer to Real Madrid in 2013.

But while the Wales international struggled for regular opportunities under Zinedine Zidane last season, Murphy suggested it could be a blessing in disguise for Spurs in their bid for a top-four Premier League finish.

The former Spurs midfielder added: “We will have to wait and see what his fitness is like, and hope he stays injury-free, but I actually think the fact he hasn’t played very much for so long means he will be in good shape physically.

“And make no mistake, he is still a goal threat, inside and outside the box. He has still got tremendous power and pace, he can dribble past people and he scores and makes goals from open play and set-pieces.

“Yes, his wages are expensive, but that’s because he is a superstar. He is definitely going to make Tottenham a better team so, however they have made the sums work, it is worth it. It is a great bit of business to bring him in.

“For what he can bring to this Spurs side, even as a short-term fix on loan, it could be the difference between them finishing in the European places or not. He is that good.”

Bale isn’t expected to make his second debut for Spurs until October at the earliest while he recovers from a knee injury.