Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has dubbed the astronomical £85.3m transfer fee
his club paid for Wales winger Gareth Bale "incomprehensible"
in the current economic climate. Bale signed for the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur
last week on a six-year contract. Asked whether the 24-year-old
was worth the hefty fee paid for him Zidane, who is now Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant coach at
Real, said: "You need to ask that question in a year's time.
"Ten years ago, they bought me for 75 million euros and I said I
wasn't worth it.
"Today, I tend to say a player is not worth that. Two clubs agree
on a price and no-one is forcing the other to do anything. "That's football. Unfortunately, it's incomprehensible with
what's happening today to pay so much." Zidane said he would offer Bale
some advice as the Welshman
seeks to hold down a place in Ancelotti's team.
"My role will certainly be to tell him that he plays as he knows how to, to not put too much
pressure on himself," he said.
"He has an incredible potential but he still has room for improvement."
Bale, who is currently on
international duty with Wales, is expected to make his Real debut
against Villarreal on September
14.