Gareth Bale's Comments on Cristiano Ronaldo the First Step to Great Partnership

Given the world record fee that he’s just moved to Real Madrid for, one might be a little understanding if Gareth Bale were to develop a bit of an ego.

The £85 million man is the flavour of the month right now, and would appear to have the world at his feet, set to light up La Liga and enter the pantheon of the greats.

Not in his own mind it seems, as the 24-year-old attacker from Cardiff has already moved to end debate and point out new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as being a superior player.

According to the Mirror’s Darren Lewis, the Welshman said of Ronaldo upon his Madrid arrival:

"

Cristiano, for me, is the best player in the world. He’s a massive factor in why I wanted to come here. They come no better than him and it’ll be an honour to play with him. We’ll have a great team and we will hopefully win a lot of things together.

Ronaldo is the boss here. He’s the main player and the best player in the world. I want to learn off him. I want to help the team.

"

It’s a refreshing perspective from the category of player that so often fails to come off as being down to the ground and still willing to graft.

Upon his move to Real Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo didn’t have that kind of approach. Although Los Merengues still had an immensely talented squad, the former Manchester United star was walking in as the headliner, the star of the show and the main attraction.

Of course, Raul could still have been considered a mentor for the Portuguese international, but even the Spanish legend would admittedly have to settle for second-best.

For Bale, it might be a case of not having to be the best but simply being the best he can be, and perhaps the former will then come in time, too.

With a smooth and fluid dynamic already set between the two, it makes for a much easier transition as Carlo Ancelotti pieces together his new squad. Alongside the likes of Isco, Casemiro, Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria as well as a raft of other superstars, Bale is set to flourish.

The most tangible quote from Bale comes in that last sentence: “I want to learn.” The very fact that the Welshman is so honest in his motivations to succeed sets the wheels in motion for a fruitful time in Spain.

So often we hear youngsters gloat after achieving something in their careers when there is still so much actually left to do.

Just as Neymar will continue to play second fiddle to Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou, Bale and Ronaldo will establish their own relationship which, in time, should see the duo feed off each other and produce an equal share of the glory.

After all, while the pursuit of superiority is all well and good, having two headline acts is always far better than just the one.