Everton boss Roberto Martinez backing Ross Barkley to emulate Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale
EVERTON boss Roberto Martinez is tipping Ross Barkley to copy Gareth Bale and make it in Europe.
Adrian Stiles
THE REAL DEAL? Martinez reckons Barkley can emulate Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale [GETTY]
Wales wonder Bale has been a sensation at Real Madrid since his record £86million move from Spurs last summer.
Madrid have cruised through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will face last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund.
And Martinez believes Barkley, 20, who scored a stunner in the Toffees' 3-0 win at Newcastle on Tuesday, has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Bale.
"I think he has the potential to achieve that," the Goodison Park boss said.
"I think you are talking about two or three years to fulfil that potential but he has got it, of course.
"For me, he is as good an English talent as we have seen and that's going to alert teams who are competing to win the Champions League, never mind the Premier League.
"His goal against Newcastle shows what he is. I have seen it on the TV – and that doesn't do it justice.
"The power, the physicality, the class, the way he strolled around the pitch and then add in his talent and ability.
"You have very powerful players in the league. There are players that have an incredible physical output but they are missing that bit of control and technical ability. But Ross has everything.
STAR: Bale has made his mark in Spain after making his name with Tottenham [GETTY]
"Is he the finished article? No. He is a young man and still developing but he's got the tools to be as good as he wants."
Spaniard Martinez also says that while Barkley will be a target for some clubs in the summer, the midfield ace and Everton are currently "the perfect fit" for each other.
And with the Toffees still in contention for a fourth-place finish in the Premier League this season, Barkley could yet be playing in Europe's elite competition next season.
Martinez and his troops face bottom-of-the-table Fulham this afternoon knowing a win will pile the pressure on Arsenal as they look to hold on to fourth place.
And Everton will have an even better chance to crank up the heat on Arsene Wenger's men when the two sides meet on Merseyside next Sunday.
Should things go to plan for the rest of the campaign, Martinez is hopeful a place at Europe's top table will help him keep on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku for at least another season.
He said: "If next season is only domestic competitions then that is one approach, if it is Europe, it is completely different.
"The parent club has a big say and the player will have a big say but the loan has been a big success."
Meanwhile, Barkley is confident he will not freeze on the big stage if Everton grab a place in Europe next term.
WE'RE GUNNING FOR YOU: Martinez reckons Everton can catch fourth-placed Arsenal [GETTY]
He said: "One of the last times we played in Europe, I was a ballboy at Goodison. It was against Fiorentina and, although I remember being freezing cold, it was a great experience because the atmosphere was fantastic.
"I just know that if we get into Europe and I get the chance to play in those games, I will remember those nights.
"When I go to fetch the ball and the ballboy throws it to me, I will be thinking, 'This could be you on the pitch in a few years'."
Barkley is a student of the European game and regularly watches matches from all over the continent in a bid to learn as much as he can.
"I watch a lot of European games," he said.
"I enjoy watching La Liga and Serie A matches. Sometimes I'll sit down and watch the Dutch League as well."