Conor Bradley interview: ‘Gareth Bale was my idol growing up’

Conor Bradley has invited instant comparisons with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold as a marauding, multi-tasking full-back.

But as he reflected on a meteoric rise since breaking into the Liverpool side, the young Northern Irishman admits modelling his game on another flyer down the flanks, Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid years capturing the imagination during Bradley’s formative years in County Tyrone.

“He was my idol growing up,” says Bradley, enthusiastically.

“He was someone I watched quite a lot. He got his big move to Real Madrid and Wales are a small nation, but he did so well for Wales and was their best player for so many years.

“I was a winger as well so he was someone I looked up to.”

The Bale influence is visible. Bradley’s blistering pace stands out, but a game-changing ability to finish at turbo power without breaking stride was showcased against Chelsea in January, while last week’s internationals demonstrated goalkeepers must be on alert if the 20-year-old is lining up long-range shots (watch video below).

Bale famously converted from being a young full-back to one of the most feared wide men in Europe. It’s a path Bradley is keen to follow, while eager to emphasise the need to add many layers to get near Bale’s levels.

“He was an unbelievable player and some of the stuff on the pitch he did was magnificent,” says Bradley, the Bale reference thrust upon him during the course of the interview rather than offered by the player himself.

“He was one of the best in the world at that stage, so I really enjoyed watching him play. It’s nice to get little comparisons like that, but I still think I have a long way to go to do what he’s done. It’s nice, but I’m still learning my trade.”

There is more symmetry with Bale’s early years. Just as the world-class Welshman carried the hopes of a home nation with a more shallow talent pool than England, Bradley’s promise is causing similar ripples of excitement in Northern Ireland, his match-winning turn against Scotland the latest instalment in a whirlwind spell.

It’s been quite the 12 months.

Exactly a year ago, Bradley shone at Wembley when League One Bolton Wanderers won the Papa John’s Trophy. A week later he scored the winning goal away at Exeter.

“It was a wee nutmeg on the goalkeeper. A decent one to be fair,” he smiles.

Injury curtailed progress upon his return to Liverpool in pre-season, when Jurgen Klopp was already planning to unleash him on the Premier League.

The breakthrough performance was in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on Jan 31, when England full-back Ben Chilwell was embarrassed by the pace, skill and physicality of Liverpool’s latest academy product.

“It was probably that game where I thought, ‘right, I can do this’. I just need to be consistent with it and try to do things like that as much as I can,” he says.

“It’s obviously difficult coming into one of the best teams in the world and trying to break through and prove that you’re good enough to play every week.

“So yeah, that was a big moment for me where I realised that this is possible.

“My friends were over for the game so they were back at my apartment after and I just remember saying to them, ‘what’s just happened?’ It was crazy.

“It was just mental the whole couple days later. I just couldn’t believe what was happening to be honest with you.”

Since then, Bradley has rapidly evolved from up-and-coming back-up to influential first-teamer. Liverpool’s next manager will not need an expensive new right-back to cover for Alexander-Arnold, nor to replace him should – as many anticipate – the vice-captain makes his recent move to central midfield permanent.

Bradley still sees himself as holding the fort until the senior man returns next weekend, but like his club mentor Alexander-Arnold and boyhood hero Bale, he does not believe himself fixed to one position.

“It is massive to be versatile,” he says.

“Trent is an unbelievable footballer and I think he could play pretty much anywhere. There are so many things I can take from him.

“It helps the manager to pick you when he knows you can play in certain positions. I am pretty versatile myself. I played as a winger all the way up through youth football and I was deployed to play there the other night for Northern Ireland and really enjoyed it.

“I enjoy the challenge of playing new positions and learning about them.”

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.