I rate whoever wrote this please someone send this to bale lol Dear Gareth, I think every Spurs fan understands the fascination of playing at the Bernabeu and Real Madrid, and needless to say we all want you to stay. It might be true as Marca writes, that you dreamt about Madrid when you were a kid and that it makes perfect sense to leave now that they are putting up a world record bid for you. When I was a kid I dreamt about being the world’s best footballer so that I could be transferred to Tottenham. I grew up in my native Norway and Spurs keeper Erik Thorstvedt was my hero, and my first footballing memory came from the 1991 FA cup final where Spurs beat Nottingham Forrest 2-1. He was the first Norwegian to win the world’s oldest footballing competition, and for us that was a big deal; Norwegians follow Premier League closely and we all speak the language. I have been to White Hart Lane to see you guys play several times since 1991. 20.000 on the waiting list to get a season ticket tell a lot about the club, Spurs has been an international known name for years, but Real is arguably bigger and has a larger brand. So why on earth should you stay? If you read the comments underneath the Sky Sports-stories it will give you some clue; football has become a debate about money. If I would be cynical, I’d say that I’d be happy with you going and Spurs getting mega-money from Madrid to spend on other players. We would be getting a lot of quality for 100 million. Lamela, Pastore, who have you? I’ve played Football Manager on my computer a few thousand hours; I’ve heard all the names before. And it’s great fun trading players, but as a football fan there is one thing I really miss; I miss a Gerrard, a Roy Keane, a Matt LeTissier. A player that I felt really chose my club and shared my love for the white and blue even when others came knocking. Many of my friends support Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United. They’ve had Stevie G, Vieira and Giggs; I never quite had that idol, perhaps besides from Ledley King – until now. I’m desperately trying to get my son to like football, to little avail. But he knows of Gareth Bale, the only Spurs player he remembers. The name Bale has already started to write itself into footballs hall of fame, it has a certain ring of magic to it like Van Basten, Schmeichel, or Maradona. That’s also some of the reason why Madrid wants you; you’ve become very valuable as a trademark. Of course I understand that being a professional footballer is a job and very different from being a supporter. I can’t expect that everyone playing for Spurs have the same devotion as I have. I do however agree with Arsene Wenger (which I don’t do very often!), but 105GBP is silly money, it is a transfer that shouldn’t happen. Football shouldn’t be a competition among businessmen; too much money will eventually ruin the sport, that’s why they tried to create the FFP which already seems to be dead in the water. I know you didn’t grow up in North London, but North London is where you grew as a footballer. If there is one club in Spain I respect it is neither the Madrid-clubs nor Barcelona. It’s Athletic Bilbao. They might be nationalistic and stubborn, but at least they have integrity whereas the idea of Real Madrid seems to be this: Buy the best players in the world, because it is possible. They are the club of the Galacticos. They buy big stars, and now they want you. Because they have money and know the fat cats of world football, they feel they can bend the rules and talk up players to unsettle them. It’s almost like a scene from Star Wars, “join the dark side”. In fact; if there was any justice in football, Real would be denied all European football this year for the way they have behaved in all this. You need to ask yourself: Is this what kind of person you want to be? Is this really the club you want to be a part of? For me there is very little glory in that, especially compared to the other option: To be the biggest legend of one of the biggest and oldest clubs in the country that invented the sport of football. Perhaps Madrid can win another La Liga title with you in the side, perhaps another Champions League-trophy. For me it just wouldn’t be worth as much knowing that I and the other mercenaries only repeated the feat done by previous mercenaries in the past; that all we did was to live up to the demands of a spoiled fan base in a club that thinks it can get any player in the world as long as they say so. You can argue that Spurs is the same, that all professional football has lost all heart and that it’s a money-game by now. I too agree that money is important in life, and if it was the case that Levy wouldn’t pay you properly I could understand. But if media reports are to be believed Spurs are willing to “smash their wage structure” to keep you. My and all Spurs fans plea to you is simply this: take this opportunity, sign the new contract. Be a legend. Stay with Spurs. If footballing reasons are most important to you, it seems like a contradiction in terms to join the industry that is Real Madrid. My countryman John Arne Riise (Liverpool and Roma) – you know the red haired guy that always tried to hug Gerrard after scoring – said something useful for a change when talking about you and Madrid: When Real Madrid and Barcelona call your name it is tempting. But, for me, there seems no reason to leave Tottenham. Moving abroad is a lonely business. When I moved to Rome I was more mature. But they didn’t speak a word of English there. Only one player in the team did. The manager came up to me and just said ‘you play left’ — that was it. On the team bus I couldn’t speak to the other players. It was the same in the dressing room and all I would do is focus, focus, focus. Fans would come up and babble away and all I could do was nod my head and sign my autograph.” My point is that going to Madrid might be a very different experience from what you think. One thing is being there on holiday, another living there; your child growing up there, you and your wife making friends there. Modric was voted the worst signing in the league after six months in the same newspaper that is lobbying to get you to Madrid. The only thing that matters is results. I know you’re not a coward and won’t be scared by all this. But in all your braveness I think it is much braver to tell pundits to shut up, and say: “I’m staying here to win things”. If you did it, that alone would be a milestone in the proud history of Tottenham. You have a great relationship with AVB, Ancelotti will be gone if there isn’t at least a La Liga-title there after this season. No matter what happens I wish you well. After all it is your decision. Just remember this: The game is about glory. NorSpur.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 10:00:37 +0000