Real Betis coach Gustavo Poyet says his former Tottenham Hotspur charge Gareth Bale is a potential future Ballon d'Or winner, something which seemed very unlikely when he first encountered the teenage defender over a decade ago.
Poyet was assistant manager at Tottenham when Bale was signed from Southampton for an initial fee of £5 million in 2007 when the Wales international was just 17-years-old and had played most of his football as a left-back.
Now 27, Bale is among the world's most expensive players following his £86m arrival at Real Madrid and is set to sign a new long-term deal with the club, as well as regularly scoring goals at international level to help his country to a semifinal place at Euro 2016.
Speaking on El Transistor radio show ahead of Betis' La Liga game at home to Madrid on Saturday evening, the Verdiblanco coach was asked if he saw Bale as a possible Ballon d'Or winner.
"For many years we have had the two -- either [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, or Ronaldo, Messi," Poyet said. "Now there are others coming up -- Neymar, [Luis] Suarez, and it could be Bale too. If he keeps at this level, taking the responsibility and stepping up to decide games when he is needed, then we will be talking about a player who is up with the very best."
That Bale could reach this level of performance was not clear at first when Poyet was assistant to Juande Ramos at White Hart Lane, and the youngster was convinced that his future was as a Roberto Carlos-style attack minded left-back.
"He came from Southampton with great physical potential and could cover the whole wing," the Uruguayan said. "He was still young and was not ready for the intensity of the Premier League. He was like a young Roberto Carlos, and wanted to play like that, on the whole wing.
"Juande Ramos tried to convince him to play further forward, but he wanted to be a full-back, with lots of space in front to break into.
"He defended as much as he had to -- same as Roberto Carlos. I would never have imagined that Gareth would end up playing as he does now.
"His last season in England was amazing. He was clearly player of the year that season. And now at Madrid. There was a very quick change in his game. He had a good shot, but not like now, and he was not such a good header of the ball.
"He had the physical qualities, but it was difficult to see he would develop like this. He has taken on the responsibility to feel important and play up front for Madrid."