Former Tottenham sports chief Damien Comolli says Harry Redknapp had to be convinced to keep hold of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale. Spurs fought off a number of other top English clubs to secure Bale's signature in 2007 and initially deployed the Welshman as a left-back.
Speaking to Irish radio station Newstalk, Comolli, who was sporting director at White Hart Lane between 2005 and 2008, said: "I've been working with data since 2005 and 2006 in terms of recruitment.
"We did it at Spurs. We used date in terms of team selection.
"Spurs actually told Harry Redknapp where to play Gareth Bale, because he wanted to get rid of him.
"Data was showing Bale would be an outstanding left winger when they were playing him at left-back."
