Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has drawn comparisons between Gareth Bale and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bale's emergence as a more central force mirrors the development of Real's Ronaldo and Villas-Boas drew the comparison between the two, while hoping that Bale did not follow his fellow Portuguese to the Bernabéu.

"Both of them are extremely technical players, extremely powerful and pacy," Villas-Boas said. "It is funny to see how, in some way, they compare. Gareth started at left-back and moved to a winger position ... now going to a more advanced role. And Ronaldo is also able to play that role up front. Ronaldo is now 28, he has achieved so much and he is an example to what Gareth wants to achieve in his career."