Former Saints and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has backed Gareth Bale to be a great success at Real Madrid if he moves to the Spanish giants.

The 24-year-old St Mary’s academy graduate is the subject of this summer’s biggest transfer saga and now appears to be edging closer to a world-record transfer from White Hart Lane to the Bernabéu.

Bale was at Saints while Redknapp was manager there, from 2004 until 2005, but had not yet broken into the first-team. However, he spent four years under him at Tottenham.

“He is behind Messi and Ronaldo in terms of being the best player in the world,” Redknapp said.

“He is at a good club, but the opportunity to play for Real Madrid does not come along too often. He has probably dreamt about that since he was a little boy.

“It seems they have offered fantastic money so it could happen, but I don’t know. I wouldn’t be sure.

“If he goes there, he will be a great success there. I am sure of that.”

While Bale was a left-back when he departed Saints, he has since gone on to make his name as an attacking player, featuring largely out wide, but sometimes up front.

“He has been playing like that for three or four years,” said Redknapp, who is now QPR manager.

“I think it was three years ago that he was Player of the Year the first time. He has been consistent over about a period of about four seasons, so he has proved he can do it regularly, every year.

“He has got everything, he can do the whole lot – he can dribble, he can shoot with both feet, can head it, run all day, run at speed. There is nothing he can’t do. He is an amazing player.”