Wales manager Chris Coleman has claimed that Gareth Bale should stay with Real Madrid rather than return to the Premier League.
The 26-year-old's future in the Spanish capital came into question last season as he struggled to replicate the form of his debut campaign in La Liga.
Despite doubts over whether he will last in Madrid, Coleman believes that Bale will benefit more from playing in La Liga instead of the physically demanding English top flight.
"If I'm being selfish, from a manager's point of view in terms of one week getting Gareth to come and play with us, I would rather him stay with Madrid because the quality is obviously there in La Liga, but the physicality is different," he told Sky Sports News.
"The Premier League is the most unforgiving league on the planet and players get weary halfway through it, physically it is very demanding. La Liga is slightly different.
"The pressure is on him because he is playing for Madrid and every time he walks on the pitch the spotlight is on him; it's not easy to deal with and there are only certain players that can deal with that and Gareth is one of those players."
Bale has scored 17 goals in 50 appearances for the Welsh national team.
Jack Prescott
