Gareth Bale Quotes

I respect what Gary Neville achieved as a player. He was brilliant at Manchester United and hats off to him.

Rooney's a legend. He's one of my favourite attackers of all time. He's a guy I really do look up to.

As a young footballer at United, Steve Bruce was one of the senior pros I really admired.

People like Paul Scholes were in my way at United - what are you going to do with that? You just look at him as an idol. I have watched him since I was a little kid. I couldn't have had a much better teacher.

Ryan Giggs pretty much won everything there is to win in the game. He made over 900 appearances for the club and always stayed loyal to Manchester United, which is really impressive.

I saw United matches on TV as a kid in Sao Paulo. I loved watching Ruud van Nistelrooy. He was a hero for me because of the way he scored goals in all competitions.

Growing up watching the Premier League, the person with the most presence was Gilberto Silva. He was everywhere in Brazil. His matches were always televised. He was the main figure I was following in the Premier League.

Growing up, John Terry was my obvious idol. I based my whole game on him.

I wish Kylian to have the same career as Thierry Henry.

Giggs is the realest.

Ryan Giggs will go down as the most successful British footballer of all time and I cannot see anyone ever overtaking him. He's on the brink of his 13th league title, after all.

I used to imagine what it would be like to do what Jim Brown was doing. I used to imagine what it would be like to be like a Tony Dorsett. I used to imagine what it would be like to be like a Walter Payton. I was imagining Emmitt Smith doing exactly what they were doing.

Obviously, Thierry Henry is someone I have looked up to ever since I started playing football.

I always modeled myself on Ronaldinho. He was one of my favourites who I followed a lot - his magic made us want to imitate him and his football. Is my goal celebration a tribute to him? Yes, of course. I like him a lot.

When Manchester United and Jose Mourinho come knocking at the door, it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down.

Del Piero is a player who I have always enjoyed watching. Del Piero has been an inspiration for me throughout my career.

CR7 is a model to all footballers.

I played with Baggio when I was young. I grew up with his myth, and to actually play with him was like being in a dream. I tried to hang out with him, to study how he played and to learn from him.

When I was a kid I used to look at Wes Brown. I loved him as a player.

Everybody knows Tevez and his qualities.

George Best was my idol. I got a chance to meet him once.

Even before I joined Manchester United, I knew of Wazza as a hard worker.

One of my favourite players is, of course, Marcus Rashford.

My idol has always been Thierry Henry.

It's just such an honour to be spoken about by Steven Gerrard in such a way, that I might also become such a great player for Liverpool. He is an icon, one of my personal football heroes.