Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 13:27• Jeroen van Poppel

Jonathan Barnett admits that Gareth Bale has had “a rough time” under José Mourinho. The agent of the 31-year-old attacker lashes out in the English press at the fired manager of Tottenham Hotspur. According to Barnett, Bale was not used properly by Mourinho, which meant that he did not fully stand out.

Tottenham released Bale from the Real Madrid bank last summer, but even under Mourinho, the Welshman was by no means always assured of a starting place. “I’ve been against it from the start the Spurs said, “If you give him the freedom, give him confidence, let him play his own game and don’t tell him what to do and what not to do, you’ll see what he can do,” Barnett told the Evening Standard.

“I’m not saying he’s that good, but treat him like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Every time he’s been treated like that he’s proven to score a lot. He’s world class. So that’s the biggest mistake that has been made.” Barnett says, who is asked if he blames Mourinho for this. “Well, I wouldn’t. He’s a very successful coach. But Julius Caesar was also very good, but I don’t think he could handle armies well today,” he says cynically.

In mid-April, Mourinho was sent off at Tottenham and replaced by interim manager Ryan Mason. In the first three Premier League matches under the new coach, Bale each had a starting place and he scored four goals. Barnett does not yet know whether his client will also be active at Tottenham next season. “He is still one of the best players in the world, but we have to see what will happen. It is a discussion between three sides: us, Real Madrid and Tottenham. We will express our opinion at the right time.” Bale is stuck in Madrid until mid-2022, but Barnett does not think the attacker will play for Real again. “I highly doubt that, but if they want to put him on the bank, that’s okay. I would also like to sit on the bank for that salary.”