Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has left Rio Ferdinand stunned after revealing that Gareth Bale is the most complete player he has ever played alongside, despite sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo and other Real Madrid greats.
Casemiro's Surprise Admission
During an appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, Casemiro was asked to name the most complete player from his illustrious career. The Brazilian, who spent nine seasons at Real Madrid alongside legends such as Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, and Toni Kroos, singled out Bale for his all-round abilities.
Casemiro explained: "Cristiano scores, Cristiano has 15 goals. Minimum 15 goals. But Bale attacks, defends, heads, scores, fouls. Cristiano is the best. Cristiano is the best. Cristiano is another one. Cristiano gives the... Take Cristiano off the conversation. But for me, Bale is the best, more complete."
He added: "Because he attacks, he defends, he scores the head, foul. Everything, he does very good, very quick. Too strong. And for me, Bale is an unbelievable player. Unbelievable player."
Ferdinand's Shock
Ferdinand, a former Manchester United and England defender, was visibly surprised by Casemiro's choice. He reminded Casemiro that he had also played alongside Ronaldinho and Neymar for Brazil, yet Casemiro maintained that Bale's ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch set him apart.
Bale's Legacy at Real Madrid
Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a then-world-record fee. During his near-decade at the club, he scored 106 goals and won three La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies. He famously scored a match-winning brace in the 2018 Champions League final, including a spectacular overhead kick.
Despite his success, Bale's time in Madrid was not without controversy. He admitted: "I think for Real Madrid I don't think that was enough for the fans. I was stubborn and I didn't want to change but if I played the game a bit better, I would have been less targeted by the press and the fans."
Casemiro's confession highlights the respect he holds for Bale's versatility and work rate, qualities that often go unnoticed in favour of goal-scoring exploits.
