Bale names Giggs as best team-mate

Cape Town - Gareth Bale did not put forward Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player he has taken the field with.

Bale said that Welsh legend Ryan Giggs was the greatest of his team-mates over the years, despite only ever playing twice alongside the Manchester United legend.

"For me, the greatest player is Ryan Giggs. He was my hero growing up and is a legend in world football. It also helps he’s a fellow Welshman,” Bale said.

The sentiment seems to have been the same in the other direction, with Giggs in 2007 saying Bale "has the physical attributes to be a top player."

"What he has to do is keep progressing like he is. He has a talent and what I have seen of him, I have been impressed," Giggs said at the time.

Bale, 27, made his international debut when Wales played Trinidad and Tobago in May 2006 and played in his first game with Giggs in their 2-0 defeat to Brazil later that year.

Bale’s view of Ronaldo seems to have diminished since the Welshman joined Real Madrid. He has said that Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi.

The former Tottenham Hotspur winger, who started as a left-back, has played 137 games for Real Madrid and is expected to take over from Ronaldo when the Portugal star departs.

Bale and Ronaldo have been nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or award and are set to play together against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon tomorrow.

Atletico Madrid will be seeking revenge over their city rivals when they host Madrid for the last time at the Vicente Calderon, having suffered defeat twice to Zinedine Zidane's men in the last three Champions League finals.

Diego Simeone's men will be looking to close a six-point gap to Madrid who lead the La Liga table by two points.

Kickoff is at 2145.