Wales caretaker coach says Gareth Bale can be as good as Lionel Messi
Wales national team caretaker manager Brian Flynn claims that Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale can become as good as reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.
Barcelona and Argentina superstar Messi is regarded by many as the finest player on the planet and is considered as one of the favourites to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
However, Bale is fast becoming a household name after a string of impressive performances for English Premier League outfit Spurs.
Flynn's praise of the 21-year-old winger comes after Bale excelled against European champions Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. He scored a hat-trick and almost rescued a draw for his side in a 4-3 loss at the San Siro before dismantling the Inter
defence in the return game at White Hart Lane where Spurs won 3-1.
Bale has netted nine goals in total this season, and Flynn, who has worked with Bale in the Wales set-up since he was 15 and hopes to become the national team's permanent coach, could hardly be happier.
Flynn told reporters: "I have known Gareth's ability from such a young age in many ways it doesn't surprise me the level he is reaching now. If you look at all the ingredients needed to be a top player, he is up there in a lot of the brackets. I judge players
in three key areas: attitude, intelligence and ability where he excels in them all. There are a lot of players who are quick but his left-foot is as good as anyone.
"Comparisons with Messi wouldn't faze him a little bit. He wouldn't be worried by that sort of adulation because of his intelligence as he can handle being a big star. Time will show. He is 21-years-old. Messi is 23 and in two years time we could be saying
'yes, Gareth is at that level'."
Bale has been with Spurs since he made the switch from Southampton in 2007 for a fee of five million pounds. He made his international debut at the age of 16 against Trinidad and Tobago and has already won 27 caps for the Wales senior team.
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