Would playing for Barcelona dilute Gareth Bale?

There has been a lot of speculation recently regarding Gareth Bale and a possible move to Barcelona. Bale is undoubtedly a brilliant footballer but I'm not sure his style is suited to the Barca way of football...unless they have designs at playing him in a wing back type of role?

As we all know Barca are total possession football and nowhere near as penetrative as Real Madrid or Manchester United who I believe he is more suited to.

So as ridiculous as this may sound, Would a move to Barcelona actually be a bad move on Bale's part and would he be the player and the threat he is now at Spurs?

Cheers guys.

Really hard to answer questions like this as it's always difficult to know how certain players will adapt at new clubs, especially in new countries. Although, one example we could look at is Javier Mascherano. A lot of people didn't think he had the game to succeed at Barca. Most of his good work at Liverpool was done off the ball. He was decent on the ball, but would sometimes take a too long to sort his feet out and could be quite ponderous on it. It did take him a good 6 months to settle in Spain, and his game has inproved immensely - probably aided by the great coaches at Barca. He's now turned into quite an accomplished cb which I never would have guessed!

As for Bale, he's quite direct but I think, like Mascherano, he'd probably get even better at Barca and given that they tend to overload players down the right hand side it would open up a lot of space on the left for a player with the pace to use it such as Gareth Bale. he'd still have to adapt his game, given that most teams tend to defend very deep against Barca, but he has the talent so he I think he could work well there.

The problem with Bale is he really wouldn't fit into the side, Barcelona play a fluid style of football with requires all the players in the formation to be competent anywhere on the pitch. Gareth Bale is a winger, and that's what he's good at, running down the wing and putting a cross in or going for goal. Tottenham seem to have tried to let Bale play in a free-role and 'diluted' is probably the best description of his performances, being played on the right or down the middle has taken away a lot of his potency.

I've seem some suggestions that Bale could be the equivalent of Dani Alves but on the left side, I think this suggestion is because people underestimate the defensive skill of Alves. While Alves is a world class attacker, his defensive qualities are often over-looked, he's managed to keep Ronaldo quiet at least.

Bale would work best a team that concentrates on fast counter-attacking football, hitting teams on the break and at pace, which isn't Barcelona.

He'd be better at Real Madrid if he was to move abroad

Ha, if he moved to Italy he'd be tearing them apart all day long. As for Barca, I don't think that move will ever transpire. Would he fit in? I don't know. He'd never get a game with Sanchez and Messi ahead of him on the wings. Possibly a left wing back due to the Abidal situation and the fact Adriano isn't that great defensively.

Messi plays as a number 9 no? Or a 'false' 9 anyway. Pedro, Sanchez and Fabregas mostly share the wider positions of the front 3 I think.

I don't even think it's a case of dilution. Gareth Bale is not good enough to play for Barcelona. You've got to think they have Messi, Pedro, Sanchez, Villa, Iniesta, Fabregas and a few other youngsters- who can all pretty much interchange where they want to play in the current Barcelona line up.

Bale is very much a left sided winger who would not fit in Barcelona's system or be good enough to secure a place in their side. Looking at the EPL, the only player I could see having a chance of making their side is Robin Van Persie, whose all round game pretty much suits Barcelona.

I've always thought Bale would make a fantastic attacking fullback if he played there consistently and worked on the defensive element of his game. However, I have to agree in the EPL (a more direct less technical league), his wing play would be far more effective than playing him at left back.

Re: Mascharano. I disagree with what was said with regards to his talents. He was by far the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League when at Liverpool (including the season they pushed man united to the wire). He is a fantastic reader of the game and it's no surprise he can do a more than adept job playing at Center back for Barcelona.

Many people questioned why Fabregas went back to Barca. Many thought he would just spend his time warming the bench. If Barca are interested in Bale, I am sure they have a plan for him. They might even see him as a David Villa replacement. Bale is quite a good finisher when he gets through one on one (and a pretty good diver too).

I also think Mascherano was and still is underrated. Many felt that it was all he was good for was tackling, but he offered so much more than that, and although he didn't offer much going forward the nature of his game means that he didn't have to and for both Liverpool and Barcelona that's not his job. I still feel that the Mascherano-Alonso and then Gerrard in front of them was the best midfield in England easily from 07-09 and it was the wings and depth which failed Liverpool.

Fabregas is a natural fit to the Barcelona game though, nobody really questioned whether he'd fit into the side when he did play only if he would play, where as Bale just doesn't have the versatility or possession football skills that Fabregas has.

They might punt Villa and sign Llorente. Barca have too many good wingers. They just don't need Bale.

They'll want him to be an attacking full back and with Barca's dominance of possession he won't have to defend.

Would be an easy role for him, bomb on into the space then cross the ball.