After signing as a brand ambassador for sportsbook and iGaming supplier Digitain, football legend Luís Figo sat down for an exclusive interview with Gambling Insider in Nice.
We asked Figo some industry-related questions, which you can read in this week’s GI Friday, and some football-related questions – which you can read in full in next month’s Trafficology magazine.
In a preview of our interview with Figo, however, we reveal below his thoughts on Gareth Bale’s tenure at Real Madrid.
A Ballon d’Or winner, Figo played in the same position as Bale during his peak as a right winger for Real.
Welshman Bale joined Real Madrid for a world-record £85m ($102.9m) fee in 2013 but endured a controversial relationship with fans in the years that followed.
He finally left Real Madrid this summer and, after a trophy-laden but injury-hit spell – when fans took issue with his love of golf in particular – Figo believes only Bale himself can truly judge his spell in the Spanish capital.
“Watching from the outside like me, some years were very good and the other ones you expect more in terms of performance,” he exclusively told Gambling Insider.
“But the quality was always there. The one who has to answer about that is himself. For me, someone in the same profession, it’s very difficult to discuss.”
Balancing both sides of the debate, though, Figo ultimately believes “you cannot forget” Bale’s contribution to the team, especially considering the Champions League titles that famous team won.
Figo explained: “He was in Madrid for a long time. Part of that time he did very well. Performance wise, he achieved very important personal moments for the team.
“But he had a lot of injuries too. The last part of his presence in the club was not so positive, because he didn’t play and because of injuries.
“I think in the last part, it could be better. But you cannot forget what he did for the club.”
